St. Martyr Menas
Type:
Icon
Period:
1848 year
Dimiter T. Molerov, born in 1780 in Bansko, son of Toma Vishanov the Moler. One of the best-known painters, a representative of the Bansko school of art, a disciple of his father, influenced by the art of Athos. Author of the murals of the naos in the St Archangels' paraclete in the Rila monastery, the murals in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the Pchelino dependance. In 1840 and 1841 together with his son Simeon Molerov he paints the murals and the sponsors' portraits in St. Nicholas' and St. John of Rila's paracletes in the principal church in the Rila monastery. Among D. Molerov's major achievements in iconography are the following icons: St. Nicholas (1816) from St. Archangel Michael's church in the village of Leshko, Christ All-triumphant with Angels and Cherubim (1833), The Nativity and a Crucifixion from St Elijah the Prophet's church in the village of Usenovo. He has also worked in Belgrade on an invitation by Prince Milosh Obrenovich of Serbia. He died in 1870 in Bansko.
Dimmensions (cm):
50
/ 39
/ 2
Location
Country: Bulgaria
Province: Blagoevgrad
Town: Bansko
Church: St. Trinity
Source
Country: Bulgaria
Province: Blagoevgrad
Town: Bansko
Church: St. Trinity
Description
A traditional iconographic treatment of this theme. The saint is portrayed in waist length, in full armour, with a red mantle on his shoulders. In his left hand he is holding a cross, and in his right hand - a long spear.
Iconographical technique: Combined
With a rich gilding and velaturas. The gilding on the aureole is applied on bole with gold-leaf. The "probaster" method has been used in the gilding. The layer of the painting is laid thinly and evenly. The varnish cover is applied thickly and unevenly.
Base material: Wood
The icon's base is of two softwood panels, joined by means of two inserted beams. The ground coat is of plaster, laid in a thin layer.
State, restoration traces and comments
There are no traces of any previous restorative intervention.
