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48-Russian Icon
The Raising of Lazarus
19th century
Egg tempera, gold leaf on wood panel
12.25" x 10.5"
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection

his icon illustrates the miracle as described in John 11:43-44. On the right is Lazarus, rising from the dead from within a cave (tomb) and still wrapped in burial clothes. Beneath him are his sisters, Martha and Mary. Above them is Christ who raises his hand in a blessing gesture as he speaks, “Lazarus, come forth.” Behind Christ are his disciples, some identified by the names inscribed within their haloes: Peter, Luke, Andrew, Matthew, and Simon. The inscription along the top border identifies the scene as “The Image of the Raising of the Righteous Lazarus.” The highly stylized hills and cream-colored background would point to a Palekh-trained artist.

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cons such as this were the result of strong Roman Catholic influence, particularly noticeable here in the presence of the “Sacred Heart,” a specifically Catholic symbol that was not adopted by Orthodoxy. The icon was probably copied by a village painter after a Catholic image he had seen. The inscription abbreviates Iisus Khristos (Russian) “Jesus Christ.” This is a fine example of a so-called peasant icon.