Type:
Icon
Period:
The first half of the
19 century
Zahari Hristovich Zograph, son of Hristo Dimitrov, was born in Samokov. He was a disciple, and later a colleague, of his brother Dimiter Zograph. He is one of the most prolific Bulgarian artists, and one of the few to include elements of everyday life in his murals. His best-known icons are in St. Constantine and Elena's Church in Plovdiv, the Virgin Mary's Church in Koprivshtitsa. Among his best-known works are also the icons from the Plakovo monastery, the Lower Beshovo monastery etc. Zahari Zograph worked on many murals as well. His best-known murals are in the Bachkovo monastery (the paraclete and St Nicholas' Church), the Rila monastery's church, the Troyan and the Transfiguration monasteries. In 1851 and 1852 Zahari Zograph lived and worked in Athos. During that period he created the murals in St. Athanasius' Lavra. Zahari Zograph is also the author of the icons in the Zograph monastery in Karea. In 1850 he painted three mural autoportraits in the Bachkovo, Troyan and Transfiguration monasteries. In his late years he painted several sponsors' portraits. After his death he left a large number of sketches which were never made into real works of art.
Dimmensions (cm):
79
/ 50
Location
Country: Bulgaria
Province: Sofia
Town: Sofia
Museum: National History Museum
Source
Country: Bulgaria
Other source: Others
Object identification notes
Probably authorship Zachary Zograph.
Description
A traditional for this theme composition, in which an archangel is holding unfolded the handkerchief of Veronica, impressed on which is the face of Jesus Christ. The execution and the coloring of the painting show the hand of a very good icon-painter.
The icon has an elaborately profiled frame. It ends at the top in a filigree polychrome woodwork of rosettes and leaves. The delicate modelling of Christ's face, imprinted on the cloth which is decorated in a floral pattern, the typical face with small lips, the large almond eyes and a pointed beard are all characteristic of Zachary Zograph's style. The colours are mellow, pastel, combined with crimson. The outline follows the contours carefully, the drawing line is delicate.
Iconographical technique: Tempera
Base material: Wood
State, restoration traces and comments
The icon is a perfect replica of the frame of a famous icon, painted by Zachary Zograph - Christ Archbishop Enthroned, St. John of Rila and St. Theodosius.
