Religious collectible art instructively claims its place of honor in the ranks of high-profile auctions: in December, more than 200 impressive lots from private collections appear on the Romanian art market. Lovers of history and religious art can familiarize themselves with the specialized collection of ancient icons and the author, which is exhibited in the Česianu-Rakovica Palace, until December 13.

The Christmas auction organized by Artmark, dedicated exclusively to sacred art, every year in the run-up to the holidays, has established itself as a separate gift market for those who wish to offer as a gift authentic symbols of the Christian tradition, which undoubtedly define outside the shrines of worship, the eternal search and embodiment of the divine , representing, as the inscriptions sometimes express, real “soul consolations” for those who receive them. Icons have the qualities of a collector’s item with aesthetic, documentary and historical value, in addition to the function of an object of worship or a religious symbol.

One of the oldest exhibits at the auction comes from the era of Konstantin Brankovianu, who ruled Wallachia between 1688 and 1714.

The collectible icon, made of gold leaf on wood, depicts the holy emperors Constantine and Helen, holding the Cross between them – a symbol of the Christian faith. In general, the painting of the icon stands out for its magnificence and richness, characteristic of the Brankov style. The price of the cult piece starts at 300 euros.

With a starting price of 10,000 euros, one of the most valuable cultural assets at the auction is a grandiose royal wooden icon from the era of Michael the Brave, more precisely the last quarter of the 16th century. The composition depicts Jesus Christ, along with miniature images of His Mother and John the Forerunner, as well as figures of the 12 apostles, which led to the formation of the so-called “Great Deisis” in the composition of the iconostasis.

From 1950 to 2022, the exhibit was part of the heritage of the Municipal Museum of Bucharest, and in January of this year it was returned to the heirs of the famous owner Ion Manolescu-Strung, the former liberal minister of trade (1934-1935).

The selection also crowns the presence of icons created by the famous school from Kelderusani, culminating in the icons signed by the pioneer of neoclassicism in Romanian painting, Gheorghe Tattarescu, who devoted a significant part of his work to religious icon painting, churches and monasteries.

The icon, signed by the artist on January 17, 1860, dates back to a period when many artists in the Romanian lands were mainly church painters, and their main goal was to follow the canons for the transmission of the images written on them. walls of religious buildings.

Tattarescu’s composition depicts the holy martyr Irina next to the holy martyr George, and on the reverse side of the icon, for the interest of history lovers, there are Danish inscriptions that reproduce the history of the work from the moment of its creation and leaving the painter’s workshop to the present time.

A special place at the auction is also occupied by two Cretan-Venetian icons, authentic 16th century collectibles. During this transitional period for iconography, Catholic religious painting diverges from Byzantine iconography, with differences in style, symbolism, and function as a result of the distinct artistic traditions between Eastern and Western Christianity.

So, with a starting price of 6,000 euros, the wooden icon “The Virgin and Child (Eleusis)” from the beginning of the 16th century is being put up for auction. Next to it, but even larger, stands the royal wooden icon “Christmas of the Lord” from the beginning of the 16th century, the price of which starts at 5,000 euros.

The benchmark auction for the religious art segment will take place next week, on the evening of December 13. 205 icons that will complement new collections or consecrate new homes are exhibited in the Chesianu-Rakovica Palace. The exhibition is open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. Admission is free, visitors will receive a free consultation from representatives of Artmark House.

Article supported by A10 by Artmark