Venerable St. Alexander Svirsky, The

Painting

-

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Venerable St. Alexander Svirsky, The

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.033

Description

Tempera on slightly curved wood panel bordered in red, green, then brown before inset image. In the top center are three angels within a cloud border. The focal image is a male saint with grey hair and beard in blue and green robes with a scroll in one hand and a blessing gesture with the other. On either side of the male is black Church Slavonic script.

Type of Painting

Panel

Artwork Details

Medium

Tempera

Collection

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.02

Source or Donor

Betsy Scheuring

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Made/Created

Date made

1700 - 1725

Time Period

18th Century

Place

* Untyped Place

Northern School of Russia

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Icon

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Religious

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

11-3/4 in

Width

10 in

Depth

1 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

For the biography of Alexander Svirsky, please see 2005.02.034. The saint here faces forward, holding a scroll in one hand and making a benediction with the other. A black, red, and white halo filled with gold frames his head, and three angels, who represent the Holy Trinity he once saw in a vision, look down from the clouds overhead. The two-dimensional quality of the painting and the figures’ elongated features reflect traditional Byzantine style, also apparent in the carefully drawn folds of the cape that frames the saint’s body. The saint’s beard and hair are highlighted with grayish-white brushstrokes. The main colors are blue, grey, and gold, with accents of red and white. Gold in the foreground and background emphasizes the drapery, while the facial coloring blends in with the background.