Zhdan Dementiev, 1630

Copy

Forefather Reuben is depicted full-length and is turned to the central image. He is holding an open scroll with his prophecy in his left hand and his right hand is raised. The margins, the halo and the background of the icon are decorated with a copper cover with stamping. 

Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Reuben. He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch sleeping with his father’s concubine on it, his birthright was given to the son of Joseph, the son of Israel. But Reuben was a kind person and a man of sincere and noble character. He was the only brother who persuaded the others not to kill Joseph and tried to rescue him. In the Old Russian art, Forefather Reuben is depicted as an old man.

The icon was restored by the team of I.P. Yaroslavtsev in the Inter-Regional Special Scientific Restoration Workshop of the Rosrestavratsiya Association in the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR in 1978-1979.