Item 33
Christ Immanuel
1816
Egg tempera, gold leaf, gesso on wood panel
17.5” x 14.25”
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection

Here Christ is seen as a youth. The type takes its name from Isaiah 7:14 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call him Immanuel.” Immanuel is a representation of the Son “begotten of the Father before all worlds.” His head is encircled in the standard cross-type halo with the words HO ON inscribed upon it, and the top left and right corners with the Greek abbreviation of Christ’s name. At shoulder-length the abbreviated Slavonic inscription reads “Gospod Emmanuil” (The Lord Immanuel). The lower margin displays a period inscription that reads, “This holy icon was blessed by the most reverend Bishop Xenofont of Vladimir and Suzdal at the opening of the Suzdal Spiritual School on the 24th day of September in the year 1816.” The work features exceptional detail throughout. Each hair on Christ’s head has been individually painted.