DESCRIPTION: Golden 19th century Palkh icon of St. George slaying the Dragon. Composition based off 16th century icon. Egg tempera on gesso ground, possible on poplar board. Incised gold leaf border. Saint George spears a dragon while a princess looks on from the top right. Christ looks down from the clouds and blesses the Roman saint (275-303 AD) who was martyred by Emperor Diocletian. Label verso from Greer Gallery, NYC. The Palekh iconographic school as an independent art movement dates back to the late 17th century. As early as the beginning of the 17th century, the Moscow iconography, and, later, the Suzdalian icon-painting had been affected by the naturalistic trends of European art that would eventually reflect themselves in the Palekh icons. While adopting the new artistic influences from Moscow, the Palekh masters preserved the old stylistic features, thus causing the development of a new regional iconography school that reached its peak in the 18th century. Other sources for the Palekh icon-painters until the late 19th – early 20th century were the 15th century Novgorodian iconographic style and the Stroganov painting. MEASUREMENTS: 12-3/8" x 10-3/8 x 1-3/8". CONDITION: Warping to surface consistent with age. Scratches, cracking, and abrasions to surface consistent with age and handling. Vibrant colors.