NO. 2287. COLLECTION OF ECCLESIASTICAL ART—CASANOWICZ. 641 



or the screen which divides the sanctuary from the main body of the 

 church, the icon, which is generally painted upon wood, is covered, 

 excepting the face and hands, with a raised relief of silver, gold, or 

 pearls, and precious stones, showing all the details and curves of the 

 drapery, clothing, and halo around the flat painted face and hands 

 of the icon. In many Russian churches not only all the wall space 

 but the surface of the columns as well is covered with pictures repre- 

 senting scenes from the Bible or the lives of the saints or religious 

 heroes. Before the icons candlesticks or large lamps are lighted. 

 In the homes such a picture is usually put up in the corner of a room, 

 and before it a lamp burns and devotions are performed. Devout 

 persons wear on a little chain around the neck a small cross or sacred 

 image given them on the day of baptism. 



The cross usually seen in the Russian Church is three-barred, of 

 which the upper bar represents the title of the cross (John xix, 19); 

 the second, the arms; and the lowest, which is always inclined at an 

 angle, the foot rest {suppedaneum) , on the assumption that one foot 

 of Christ, when suffering, was drawn higher than the other. 



There are in the museum's collection over 300 icons and crosses, 

 the larger part of brass. A selection from them will be noted below. 



236. Russian icon, Mary with infant. — Covered with a silver gilt 

 plate of chased work to represent the clothing, with apertures for 

 faces and hands. Studded with fresh-water pearls, emeralds, ruby 

 spinels, and garnets, which date from the eleventh to the fourteenth 

 century, as they are all drilled and were used for some other purpose 

 before they were put in the frame of the icon. The pictures on the 

 folding doors, representing scenes from the lives of Christ and Mary, 

 were painted by the artist who designed and decorated the cathedral 

 of Nizhni Novgorod, about 1645. Height, 13^ inches; width, 17i, 

 inches. — Nizhni Novgorod, Russia. (Plato 93, Cat. No. 154779 

 U.S.N.M.) 



237. Russian icon, Mary with infant. — Painted on wood. Height, 

 6| inches; width, 4f inches. — Nizhni Novgorod, Russia. (Cat. No. 

 154778, U.S.N.M.) 



238. Miniature of Christ and Mary. — Oval, painted on porcelaine 

 Christ is represented in half figure, with long hair falling behind, face 

 slightly turned to the left, and hands folded on the bosom. He is 

 covered with a green cloak wliich leaves his bosom and left arm free. 

 Mary's minute bust is above, with red garment down over her head. 

 She is represented with hands extended rising above the clouds or, 

 looking down from heaven. The porcelain is set in a silver gilt frame, 

 which is provided with a loop for suspension, indicating that it was 

 worn as a medallion. An inscription in Russia reads, "Moscow. 

 April 13, 1796." Diameters, 2t and iH inches. (Cat. No. 293052, 



