Icon Of Saint John The Baptist Angel Of The Desert, Greece 18th Century

Beautiful Greek icon depicting St. John the Baptist as a desert angel, dating from the second half of the 18th century.

The last prophet of the Old Testament, St. John the Baptist, also known as the Precursor, inspired Christian iconography with scenes of his ascetic life in the desert, where he heard and preached the word of the Lord before baptizing Christ.

The blessing saint, dressed in a simple animal skin, is depicted here winged, like an angel. The composition is elegant and the expression profound and powerful, inviting the viewer to contemplation.
He holds a chalice containing his own severed head -- a reminder of his torture.`

In the Byzantine style, the icon is finely painted in tempera on a wooden panel. The palette is deep and warm, with a chromatic dominance of green and red. The saint's halo is gilded with gold leaf, a symbol of divine light.
Dimensions: (H) 28cm by (W) 21cm
In very good overall condition, this icon is sold with its certificate of authenticity.