Nicholas the Wonderworker, St., with 18 scenes from his life

Iconography:  Nicholas of Zaraysk, St., Hagiographic cycle Nicholas

Date: XVI century.

Iconographic school/art center:  Pskov icon-painting school

Material: Wood, levkas, tempera

Dimensions:  height 95,5 cm, width 78,5 cm

In the centerpiece is represented the frontal depiction of the saint full-length dressed according to the tradition, his hands raised up in prayer. His right hand is blessing and his left hand holds the open Gospel book on the cloth. At the sides of the saint’s halo in the two-color aureoles are depicted blessing Christ with the Gospel book and the Mother of God with the omophorion. The centerpiece is surrounded by 18 border scenes from the life of the saint.

Border scenes:

1.  Apparition of the lamb to Nonna, mother of the saint;
2. The Nativity of St. Nicholas;
3. The Baptism of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas refuses to drink maternal milk on fast days;
4. St. Nicholas brought to the school;
5. St. Nicholas consecrated deacon;
6. St. Nicholas consecrated archbishop;
7. Miracle of saving the three friends from drowning;
8. Miracles of exorcising the demons from the well and from the tree;
9. Miracle of healing the paralytic adolescent with the help of the icon of St. Nicholas;
10.Miracle of saving adolescent Demetrios from drowning;
11. Miracle of saving the adolescent Epiphanius, the merchant’s son;
12. Miracle of the cumin;
13. Miracle of the cumin;
14. Miracle of rescuing the three men from the execution;
15.    Appearance before Tsar Constantine in his sleep;
16.    Miraculous appearance of saint Nicholas and Simeon the God-receiver to St. Peter of Athos in dungeon;
17.    The transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas;
18.     The entombment of St. Nicholas.


Inv. № 24696. © Pskov State United Historical, Architectural and Fine Arts Museum-Reserve

Bibliography: Васильева О.А. Иконы Пскова. М., 2003. № 92. С. 194.



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