The Holy Forty Martyrs
Type:
Icon
Period:
The middle of the
19 century
Dimmensions (cm):
40
/ 32
Location
Country: Bulgaria
Province: Sofia
Town: Sofia
Museum: National History Museum
Source
Country: Bulgaria
Other source: Others
Object identification notes
The colours, typical of the Bansko school, are rich in undertones. Gold is used for itself, as an independent colour component, lending certain festivity and further enhancing the brightness of the icon.
Description
The forty martyr soldiers are depicted in full height, standing naked in the cold lake. To the right is the hot bath. At the foreground, in the two corners are the seated guards, who are sleeping, wrapped in their cloaks. In general, the composition follows old iconographic patterns, but the figures have volume and are depicted in dynamic poses; the landscape is a multiplane one. Some interesting details are included to elaborate on the story. The icon lacks the static austerity and schematic formula of the classical icon.
Iconographical technique: Tempera
Тhe frame of the icon is decorated in black and gilt. The background is gilt.
Base material: Wood
State, restoration traces and comments
The inscriptions are in Bulgarian.
