The St. George Miracle with the Serpent is a popular Siberian icon painted by an unknown Suzun artist at the turn of the 20th century. Suzun is a residential community in the Novosibirsk Region. This is exactly the place where the Nikolskaya Fair emerged and made the Siberian craftsmen famous. In the 19th century, during mass settlement in Siberia, home icons proved scarce, and this started the Suzun icon painting craft.
St. George Miracle with the Serpent
Creation period
19th –early 20th century
Dimensions
26,6x30,7 cm
26.6х30.7х1.8 cm
26.6х30.7х1.8 cm
Technique
Tempera on wood, painting
Collection
Exhibition
4
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St. George Miracle with the Serpent
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George the Victory Bearer is a Christian saint; in 303, at the time of Emperor Diocletian, St. George was subjected to eight days of torture and, after that, beheaded for his faith. After some time, the Orthodox Church called him the Great Martyr. He became famous for his post-mortem miracles. One of the most widely spread legends about St. George is the ‘Miracle with the Serpent’.
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The artist presented George the Victory Bearer in the painting technique. Next to him stands princess Elisava, the daughter of Lasean tsar Selevin. St. George appeared to her as a warrior and saved her from the serpent. In the icon, the serpent is painted as attached to her belt: according to the legend, Elisava brought the serpent to the city, and St. George stabbed the dragon with his spear in plain view of the citizens. All images in the icon are symbolic: the princess is the Orthodox Church, which the saint is setting free of the serpent, pagan oppression. The serpent is also an embodiment of the devil.
The version of the icon – with the princess and the tower in the right-hand part of the icon – is called a complete one or a detailed one in the iconography of St. George. The short version shows only St. George the Victory Bearer on horseback and the serpent pierced with the spear.
The version of the icon – with the princess and the tower in the right-hand part of the icon – is called a complete one or a detailed one in the iconography of St. George. The short version shows only St. George the Victory Bearer on horseback and the serpent pierced with the spear.
Usually icons of the St. George Miracle with the Serpent type showed a red sagum on the shoulders of the Saint symbolizing martyrdom. After the execution of St. George, the Church posthumously canonized him as a hieromartyr. In iconography, the red colour traditionally designates the blood of Jesus shed to redeem the sins of mankind.
In this icon, the artist departed from canonicity and made the hieromartyr’s sagum green. The green colour in the Orthodox faith was associated with the colour of the True Cross made of emerald and with the Holy Trinity. According to the legend, George prayed to God before fighting, and God responded to his prayer and helped him to win a victory. The green colour symbolizes the patronage and protection of Jesus Christ.
In this icon, the artist departed from canonicity and made the hieromartyr’s sagum green. The green colour in the Orthodox faith was associated with the colour of the True Cross made of emerald and with the Holy Trinity. According to the legend, George prayed to God before fighting, and God responded to his prayer and helped him to win a victory. The green colour symbolizes the patronage and protection of Jesus Christ.
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A horse in Russian icons is a warrior’s true and devoted friend. The horse’s colour is white. Thereby the artists conveyed closeness to the Divine Light, the purity of intention of George the Victory Bearer and his sanctity.
People considered St. George a hero and deliverer from evil. Cathedrals were built in his name, and the icons in which the saint is killing the serpent with a spear, were most widespread.
People considered St. George a hero and deliverer from evil. Cathedrals were built in his name, and the icons in which the saint is killing the serpent with a spear, were most widespread.
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Iskitim Municipal Museum of Arts and History
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St. George Miracle with the Serpent
Creation period
19th –early 20th century
Dimensions
26,6x30,7 cm
26.6х30.7х1.8 cm
26.6х30.7х1.8 cm
Technique
Tempera on wood, painting
Collection
Exhibition
4
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