Russian icon of the Ascension of the Lord. Moscow school 19th century

The Russian Orthodox icon Ascension of the Lord is a true masterpiece of Russian Orthodox painting of the 19th century, executed in the best traditions of the Moscow school. The plot of the icon reflects a key moment in Christian history - the Ascension of Jesus Christ, symbolizing his divine ascension and victory over the earthly world. The composition is masterfully divided into two registers filled with deep theological meaning and artistic expressiveness. The upper register depicts the Savior in a shining mandorla, ascended by angels. He sits on the throne of glory, dressed in a himation and a chiton with a characteristic combination of red and green tones, symbolizing his earthly nature and divine greatness. In the lower register, the central place is occupied by the Mother of God - the only static figure, emphasizing her spiritual presence and the inviolability of faith. On either side of it are two angels in white robes, pointing to the sky and telling the disciples the meaning of what is happening. The apostles are captured in a moment of deep thought and emotional shock: among them, one can distinguish the apostle Peter (in a blue chiton with a brown himation) and the apostle Paul (in a green tunic with a red himation). The background of the icon is gilded, which emphasizes its sacred nature. Along the upper edge is the inscription Ascension of the Lord, executed in traditional Church Slavonic cinnabar-colored font. The icon is distinguished by exceptional detailing of the faces and softness of lines, typical of the Moscow school of the 19th century. A rich palette of red, green and blue shades is used. The gilding of the halos and the background gives the icon depth and luminosity, and the finely drawn folds of the clothes emphasize the elegance of the composition. Dimensions Height - 40 cm, width - 44 cm.

This image is a unique monument of the Russian icon-painting tradition of the 19th century, combining canonical strictness, the highest level of artistic execution and rare preservation. The icon is distinguished by impeccable coloring, masterful drawing of details and deep spiritual content, making it an outstanding example of Orthodox art of the 19th century.