Artwork

Icoae mi

Icoae mi, by Unknown, 1850
Icoae mi, by Unknown, 1850

Icoae mi is a drawing by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum.

About this work

Overview

The work titled “Icoae mi” presents a solemn figure clothed in vivid orange garments and a green mantle, his head encircled by a golden halo. He holds an open book bearing Cyrillic-like script. Flanking him, two smaller beings in blue attire stand upon clouds, gazing downward.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure appears to be a saint or holy person, indicated by the halo and the cross stitched on his robe. The presence of the book suggests a connection to scripture or teaching, while the attendant figures on clouds may symbolize heavenly witnesses or intercessors.

Technique & Style

The composition employs flat, saturated colors without gradations of light or shadow, creating a stylized, two‑dimensional effect. The lack of modeling aligns with a decorative approach, reminiscent of medieval iconography, rather than realistic representation.

History & Provenance

The image is identified as an “IMAGE” type, with no further details on its creation date, artist, or ownership. The use of Cyrillic‑style lettering hints at an Eastern European cultural context, though provenance remains undocumented.

Context

The visual language—halo, cross, and celestial figures—places the piece within a tradition of religious icon painting, where symbolic color coding and flat pictorial space convey theological ideas rather than naturalistic scenes.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known