62            RUSSIAN ICON: Praise of the Mother of God, 17th century Yaroslav/Stroganov School. At center is the Mother of God enthroned. She is often depicted with a skein of purple yarn in her hand much like in the Annunciation scene. She turns slightly to the right with her hands held upward and palms outward, a gesture signifying acceptance, submission and modesty. She is surrounded by eleven Old Testament Prophets holding open scrolls with texts prefiguring Mary. At top center Christ Immanuel delivers a blessing. The borders overlaid with silver basma. A fine old icon representing traditional old iconographic style prior to the schism that would eventually see a dramatic change in the style of icon painting. An important old icon. 12.5"x9.75".  Estimate          $2,500-$4,000

63            RUSSIAN ICON: A male monk saint, possibly Saint Cyril of Belozersk, 17th century. A waist up image of a monk wearing the skema, delivering a blessing and holding a scroll. An interesting old icon. 13.5"x12.5".  Estimate            $1,000-$1,500

64            RUSSIAN ICON: Saint Makariy Zhelton, Wonderworker of Unzhensk, 17th century. St. Makariy, the founder of the three monasteries, is better known under the name of "Yellow Waters," for it was on Yellow Waters Lake that he was prior of the second monastery he founded. In 1432 the Tartars destroyed this monastery. Makariy then settled by the Unzha River, a tributary of the Volga, where he founded his third monastery dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It seems that icons with his image appeared long before he was officially recognized as a Saint by the church, which set his feast day as July 25th in the year of his canonization in 1619. Here Makariy is shown in front of the Holy Trinity Monastery surrounded by the Unzha River. He appears attired as a monk and holds a scroll. The top left border is inscribed "The Holy Trinity" and the central and right upper border are inscribed "The Venerable Makariy." The panel construction, double kovcheg, pallet and overall style easily place this icon in the 17th century, most likely the middle part of the century. 13"x11".  Estimate            $4,500-$6,500
For a similar example see: L. Ouspensky and V. Lossky, “The Meaning of Icons”, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1989, page 134, where a similar icon of Makariy (Macarius) is shown and listed as 17th century.

65            BULGARIAN ICON: The Mother of God and Infant Christ holding prayer beads, 17th/18th century. The lower margin with remnants of inscription. 13"x10.5".  Estimate            $1,000-$2,000

66            RUSSIAN ICON: The Old Testament Trinity, end of the 17th century with later restorations. The borders with two female saints. 12.25"x10.5".  Estimate            $800-$1,200

67        A VERY FINE VENETO CRETAN ICON: The Virgin and Child, 17th century. Egg tempera, gold leaf, gesso on wood panel. The Mother of God holds the Infant Christ who holds an orb and delivers a blessing. The haloes with incised and tooled decoration. The flesh tones finely shaded with multiple layers of cross-hatching. Excellent condition. 11.25"x9.5".  Estimate            $3,000-$5,000

68        A FINE VENETO CRETAN ICON: The Life Giving Font Theotokos, circa 1700. Here Mary is seated with her child in a chalice-form fountain set in the middle of a constructed pool. Water from the "chalice" pours into the fountains, and those suffering various ills cluster about to take the life-giving waters. Indistinguishably signed lower left. 17"x9.25".  Estimate            $2,500-$4,500

69        A FINE SIGNED AND DATED GREEK ICON: The Three Hierarchs and Saints, circa 1705. Executed on a gold leaf field. At top the Three Hierarchs, Saint Basil the Great of Caesarea, Saint John Chrysostom, "The Golden-Mouthed," and Saint Gregory the Theologian of Nazianzus. The Three Hierarchs exemplify the correct garments for a bishop. They each hold a copy of the Gospels to show that he is a teacher of the church. St. Basil is considered the father of Orthodox communal monasticism, St. Gregory was an orator poet and the usual Orthodox Sunday liturgy is the Liturgy of St. John of Chrysostom. The lower register depicts two male saints. Excellent condition. 11.5"x9.25".  Estimate            $1,000-$2,000

70            RUSSIAN ICON: The Nativity of Christ, 17th century. Here the Mother of God reclines before a cave in a hill. The newborn Christ lies in a manger outside the cave watched by an ox and ass. At the upper corners are angels. The angel on the left pointing to the star and giving direction to the approaching three Magi. The angel on the right appearing to a shepherd who holds a flute. At lower left, Joseph, Mary's husband, is seated listening gloomily to an old shepherd who is traditionally seen as the Devil in disguise. The Evil one is tempting Joseph to doubt the truth of the incarnation and Virgin birth. At lower left a midwife named Zelomi is preparing to wash the newborn child. The abbreviated Slavonic inscription along the upper margin identifies the subject as Rozhdestvo (birth) Gospoda (of the Lord) Isusa Khrista (Jesus Christ). The overall large size of this icon would suggest it was from the festival tier of an iconostasis. A large and lovely icon of this important subject. 23.5"x17.5".  Estimate            $3,500-$5,500