Hand-painted Icon of the Nativity of Christ

Description

The Redeemer of the World began life far from Rome’s marble halls. He was born in a remote province, in the dark of night, in a stable. And yet, it was one of the most joyful and momentous happenings after His rising from the dead. Its iconography rests on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, plus some other apocryphal writings: the Protoevangelium of James, the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, and the Narrative of Aphroditian the Persian.

In the icon, the Mother of God lies on a red bed. Close by is a cave, where we see the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger – an animal's feeding trough. An ox and a donkey stand near the manger. They not only show the barn setting but also echo Isaiah’s prophecy: "The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." (Isaiah 1:3). An alternative interpretation exists: the ox and donkey represent two peoples: the Israelites and the Gentiles, for whose sake Jesus took on human form.

High above, a gleaming semicircle opens, sending the Star of Bethlehem’s rays down upon the Child. On either side, angels and the Magi appear among the rocky slopes, bearing gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Mother of God is either looking at Jesus or, more often, looking away from Him. The way the Virgin Mary stands shows us that Jesus, her son, is not just hers anymore. Looking away from Him also shows that she now turns towards humanity, ready to protect and comfort.

In front of pensive Joseph stands an elderly shepherd. Some hold that this figure in sheepskins is a demon trying to confuse Joseph. But there is not much truth to that idea. Evil spirits, when shown in human form, have specific traits: little wings, tails, and two-faced heads.

An alternative reading draws on the Protoevangelium of James. It suggests that the figure appearing before Joseph is Annas the scribe, who suspected Joseph and Mary of sin.

At the foot of the icon, two women wash the Christ Child. One is a midwife, brought to the cave by the righteous Joseph according to the apocryphal account of James. Marvelling at what she witnessed, she fetched another woman to see it for herself.

Feast day January 7 (December 25).

Materials

This icon is painted using the following materials:

• Tempera paints
• Lime, alder, or pine board
• Gesso
• Colored wax
• Gold leaf
• Linseed oil
• Hide glue
• Varnishes (mordant, kauri gum, acryl-styrolic)

Size

This icon of the Nativity of Christ is available in several sizes: 30×41 cm, 40×52 cm.

Decorations

This icon has a hand-carved rectangular central panel. Some elements of the vestments are painted with gold. It is also decorated with gold-plating of the halo and other elements.

This icon of Christmas may be additionally adorned with wrought silver, a metal or textile oklad, precious and semiprecious gemstones.

We recommend placing this icon in an opening or a non-opening icon case to protect it from humidity fluctuations and dust.

Price & Deadlines

The cost of this icon and the time it will take to make it are negotiable, depending on its size, decorations, complexity of its composition, gold-plating. Once it is ready, the icon will be consecrated in St Elisabeth Convent.