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A striking 19th-century Russian icon depicting The Holy Face of Christ “Mandylion” (The Image Not Made by Hands), one of the most revered images in Christian iconography. The solemn face of Christ appears at the center upon the sacred cloth, framed by a cruciform halo, while two angels emerge from the upper corners in reverent attendance. Hand-painted in traditional tempera on an original wooden panel, the icon is distinguished by its monumental frontal depiction of Christ and the beautifully ornamented cloth surrounding His face. Delicate floral decoration, restrained green tones, gilded details, and the surviving traditional inscriptions create a powerful devotional image characteristic of 19th-century Russian icon painting. The icon retains its authentic historical character, displaying a deeply aged surface, extensive craquelure and centuries-old patina. The reverse preserves traditional Russian construction with two transverse wooden battens, while the darkened timber, natural aging and old insect traces further reflect its long history. Condition: Overall antique condition with significant age-related wear, craquelure, scattered paint and ground losses, abrasions, fading and deterioration to portions of the decorated cloth and borders. A vertical structural join/split runs through the central section of the panel and image. Numerous old insect holes are visible on the reverse. Evidence of historical conservation and retouching may be present. Despite its extensive wear, the exceptionally expressive face of Christ remains strongly preserved and visually commanding.
