Discover how the value of similar works has evolved over the past 10 years. Art is not only beauty — it's an investment.
Discover how the value of similar works has evolved over the past 10 years. Art is not only beauty — it's an investment.
The icon of Saint Simeon the Stylite was created in Moscow at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and represents a characteristic synthesis of Academic painting and the refined silversmith tradition of the capital workshops. The saint is depicted in monastic vestments, raising his prayer to God, emphasizing his spiritual feat of ascetic endurance and detachment from the earthly world. In the upper left corner, God the Father is shown bestowing His blessing, reinforcing the theological interpretation of the image as a symbol of uninterrupted communion with the Divine. The background is enriched with architectural elements executed in traditional Orthodox stylistics with elements of academic spatial construction.
The icon is enclosed in a gilded silver oklad produced by the workshop of Semyon Grigorievich Galkin. The oklad demonstrates a high level of artistic craftsmanship: repoussé work, delicate hand engraving with burin, punchwork, and complex polychrome enamel create a vivid decorative effect. Particular attention is drawn to the saint’s crown, adorned with colored enamel, producing an impression of radiant luminosity. The velvet backing and refined mounting underscore the ceremonial character of the piece.
Materials and technique: Wood panel, gesso, egg tempera; silver 84 standard, gilding, enamel, casting, repoussé, piercing, hand engraving with burin, punchwork, polishing, finishing, mounting, velvet.
Hallmarks: Maker’s mark “SG” Semyon Grigorievich Galkin; State assay mark “84” with a female head in kokoshnik facing left and initials “IL” Ivan Sergeyevich Lebedkin, Moscow, appointed in 1899.
Dimensions: Height: 22 cm; Width: 18 cm.
Condition: Good collector’s condition. Traces of gilding preserved, enamel without losses. Painted surface stable, without restoration.
Provenance: Private collection.
The veneration of Saint Simeon the Stylite in Russian Orthodox tradition gained particular prominence in the 19th century, when renewed attention was given to early Christian ascetics as symbols of spiritual steadfastness and contemplative devotion. Moscow icon workshops of the late 19th and early 20th centuries increasingly combined canonical iconography with Academic artistic principles, emphasizing tonal modeling, architectural backgrounds, and spatial depth. Such works were produced both for ecclesiastical settings and for private devotional use, reflecting the high level of religious culture in pre revolutionary Russia.
The workshop of Semyon and Pyotr Galkin, founded in 1890, became one of the notable Moscow manufacturers of silver objects. Archival data records steady growth in production and workforce expansion by the early 20th century. Icon oklads produced by the Galkin factory are distinguished by precise repoussé work, expressive relief modeling, and refined use of gilding in combination with colored enamel. The presence of the assay mark of Ivan Sergeyevich Lebedkin, appointed in 1899, allows for accurate dating and confirms compliance with the Imperial Russian state assay system.
Icons in silver oklads of this quality are of considerable interest both as monuments of Russian ecclesiastical art and as examples of the high artistic standards achieved by Moscow silversmith workshops, uniting spiritual tradition with refined craftsmanship and historical authenticity.
Condition Report:
Silver oklad without visible deformation, natural signs of age present. Hallmarks legible. Enamel preserved. Painting without flaking or losses. Overall condition corresponds to museum level preservation.
The condition report is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not comprehensive and may not reflect all defects, restorations, alterations, or adaptations, as Antiqon does not perform professional conservation-level assessments. The information is based on a qualified, yet subjective, evaluation by our specialists.Before purchasing, we recommend consultation with an independent expert.Please also consult our Terms and conditions and Glossary A-Z, which contain important information on lot characteristics and sale conditions.
