ST. PARASKEVA PIATNITSA

Creator(s): Unknown

Currently in storage

About this object

The humblest of all icons was the small, quickly painted image produced as a souvenir of a pilgrimage to a famous monastery or to invoke the protection of a particular saint. Although unpretentious and crudely painted, these popular icons can exude great charm and sincerity.

This small travelling icon of St. Pareskeva Piatnitsa depicts her half length holding an eight-ended cross in her right hand and with her left supporting an unfurled scroll with the inscription "I believe in the one God." Her head and shoulders are covered by a lime green cowl on top of which a large crown is perched. She wears an ochre maphorion over a dark blue gown, the folds of which are indicated by parallel lines in darker blue. A brown line traces the contours and features of her face and her eyes, nose, and chin are highlighted with white strokes. The ground is covered with a tarnished bronze powder imitating gold leaf and a white line defines her halo. The polia is ochre with a brown filenka and the inscription "Holy Martyr Paraskeva Called Piatnitsa" is written in black on the top polia. On the back is a pencil inscription "This icon of Paraskeva Piatnitsa was bought in [?] as a keepsake. I bought it on 18 July 1886 for 20 kopeks."

Object name:

ST. PARASKEVA PIATNITSA

Made from:

Tempera on wood

Made in:

Russia

Date made:

1875-1900

Size:

11.1 × 8.3 cm (4 3/8 × 3 1/4 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

54.82

Class:

ICON

Signature marks:

INSCRIPTION S. MU. PARASKEVA NARECH. PIAT...VERIU VO EDINNOGO BOGA on recto inscription KUPLENA SIIA IKONA PIATNITSA PARASKEVA V [illegible] V ZNAK PAMIATI. IA BYL I KUPIL 1886 GODA, 18-OGO IIULIA ZA TSENU 20K" on verso translated: This icon of Paraskeva Piatnitsa was bought in [?] as a keepsake. I bought it on 18 July 1886 for 20 kopeks

Credit line:

Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973