Artwork
Sf. Gheorghe
Sf. Gheorghe is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Popa Nicolae. It dates from 1777 and is held in the collection of the Alba Iulia Orthodox Archdiocese.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1777 by the Romanian painter Popa Nicolae, this iconographic image is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It portrays a solemn figure dressed in a red robe edged with gold, standing against a flat golden background. The composition includes four circular inscriptions in red and black surrounding the head, a typical device in ecclesiastical portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The central character is identified as Saint George, shown with a short dark haircut and a greenish tunic beneath the outer robe.
The central character is identified as Saint George, shown with a short dark haircut and a greenish tunic beneath the outer robe. His right hand is extended palm‑upward, a gesture traditionally associated with blessing or instruction. The surrounding labels likely enumerate virtues or titles linked to the saint, reinforcing his role as a protector and moral exemplar within the religious tradition.
Technique & Style
The work employs tempera on panel, evident in the vivid yet slightly weathered pigments. Gold leaf forms the uniform background, creating a luminous field that isolates the figure. Brushwork is precise, especially in the rendering of the robe’s gold trim and the facial features, while the paint surface shows signs of age, including minor flaking that reveals the underlying layers.
History & Provenance
Popa Nicolae, active in the late eighteenth century, produced this piece for a local ecclesiastical setting before it entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. The museum acquired the work as part of its effort to preserve regional folk art and religious imagery, ensuring its continued public accessibility and scholarly study.
Artist & collection
Artist
Romanian printmaker and painter Nicolae Popa filled small canvases and sheets with quiet, precise scenes.
