The Annunciation
Type:
Icon
Period:
1841 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):
98
/ 80
/ 2.5
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 the theme. The Holy Mother of God is painted seated on a throne with a rich Baroque decoration. In front of her, placed on a small lectern, are a closed book and a roll, and painted in full length is Saint Archangel Gabriel. In his left hand he is holding a full-blown lily, and with his right hand he is pointing at a little dove - the symbol of the Holy Spirit, flying above her. The two figures are painted against the background of a rich Baroque interior. She is in a decorated with ornaments apse, and the Archangel is against the background of a Baroque building. Painted to the waist in the composition's upper part are the figures of the prophets David and Solomon. The scene is a solemn one, and the graphic line and the coloring betray the hand of a very gifted painter.
Iconographical technique: Tempera
A distemper painting, with a rich gilding with gold-leaf and velaturas. There is some engraving on the aureoles of the figures. Used had also been the "probaster" technique of painting.
Base material: Wood
The icon's base is made of two white-pine panels. The ground coat is of plaster, laid in thin layers.
State, restoration traces and comments
There are, in the icon's lower middle part, a great number of damages of the painting layer, which had been restored in a quite unprofessional way.
