Description
St. John the Baptist Byzantine Icon. This is a very detailed and colorful hand painted and hand crafted icon, done in an authentic Byzantine Christian religious traditions. The icon is composed on a traditional thick and heavy high quality durable solid wood. After completing the painting of the drawing to the panel, several layers of bole (burnishing clay) are applied to the background to prepare them for the receiving of 24K Gold Leaf. After gilding, gold is burnished using agate burnisher or, for a varied effect can be finished with so-called water matte method. Then the base is covered with a layer of batiste or canvas and several layers of gesso made from rabbit skin glue and powdered marble. The result is a truly spectacular masterpiece, aged to look like it came from Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Byzantine Empire at the height of its power some 1000 years ago.This is NOT an ordinary icon (such as those offered by most internet store, mass produced and cheaply made), and it is NOT an ordinary painting! Only few masters in the world still carry on this about 1,500 years old tradition and are capable of producing such masterpieces, handmade and hand painted in an authentic Byzantine traditional technique. Think of it as like getting a large 24k Gold painting: it is expensive to make, the wood is heavy and much more difficult to handle then simple light oil canvas, and it is extremely complicated to create and age. The result, however, is a timeless investment set to be enjoyed by many generations of your family. This icon is also available in sizes – Please select from the pull-down menu your choice of size and then click the “Order Now” button.
Made on wood panel and covered with 24k gold. For creation of our icons we use and apply traditional Byzantine methods and materials which have been tested over many centuries. The base of the icon is a traditional high quality durable wood covered with a layer of canvas and several layers of gesso. After completing the painting on the panel with professionally created egg tempera paint, several layers of bole (burnishing clay) are applied to the background to prepare them for the receiving of 24K gold leaf, and after gilding, gold is burnished using agate burnisher. As a final finish for our icons we use linseed oil based varnish. Finally a degree of aging can be applied to the icon, which depends of your personal choice. Of course, you may also elect your icon not to be aged. Let us know what your preference is when placing the order. While some other works of art require some special conditions for their preservation (most typically protection from light), paintings in egg tempera on wood, finished with linseed oil based varnish are best preserved under the same, moderate conditions of light, humidity, temperature and cleanliness of air that are optimal for human habitation. This is why our Byzantine Icons are timeless investment set to be enjoyed by many generations of your family.
Please select from the pull-down menu your choice of size and then click the "Order Now" button. This icon is available in sizes 16"x12"x1.4" to 53"x35"x1.6" size 1: 16" (40cm) x 12" (30cm) x 1.4" (3.50cm) $799 size 2: 24" (60cm) x 16" (40cm) x 1.6" (4cm) $1,599 size 3: 32" (80cm) x 24" (60cm) x 1.6" (4cm) $2,999 size 4: 40" (100cm) x 28" (70cm) x 1.6" (4cm) $3,999 size 5: 53" (135cm) x 35" (88cm) x 1.6" (4cm) $4,999 For more details please refer to our "Byzantine Icons FAQ"
PayPal, VISA, MC, AmEx, Google Checkout, checks, bank transfers accepted
Since this is a made-to-order item, it is returnable within 7 days of the receipt date for money back guarantee (minus shipping charges and 10% restocking fee), provided it is returned undamaged in original condition and packaging.