Artwork

Icoana este pictată pe sticlă, reprezentând Botezului Domnului. Iisus Hristos în apa Iordanului este reprezentat central, încadrat de o parte și de cealaltă de Sf. Ioan Botezătorul și de un înger cu năframă în mâini. Deasupra lor Sfântul Duh reprezentat în chip de porumbel revarsă raze asupra personajelor. Într-un nor pictat la partea superioară a imaginii este înscris în grafie chirilică textul: „Botezul lui HS”. Fundalul pe care sunt redate personajele este de culoare albastră pe acesta fiind ilustrate flori în culorile alb și maro. Cromatică: auriu; roșu; maro; galben; negru; albastru.

Icoana este pictată pe sticlă, reprezentând Botezului Domnului. Iisus Hristos în apa Iordanului este reprezentat central, încadrat de o parte și de cealaltă de Sf. Ioan Botezătorul și de un înger cu năframă în mâini. Deasupra lor Sfântul Duh reprezentat în chip de porumbel revarsă raze asupra personajelor. Într-un nor pictat la partea superioară a imaginii este înscris în grafie chirilică textul: „Botezul lui HS”. Fundalul pe care sunt redate personajele este de culoare albastră pe acesta fiind ilustrate flori în culorile alb și maro. Cromatică: auriu; roșu; maro; galben; negru; albastru. is a drawing by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the ASTRA National Museum Complex. This work is a painted image on glass, mounted on a light wooden panel with visible grain and knots.

About this work

Overview

The original likely served liturgical purposes, while this version appears to be a later reproduction, possibly for educational or devotional use.

This work is a painted image on glass, mounted on a light wooden panel with visible grain and knots. A handwritten note on the right identifies it as a replica, suggesting it is a copy of an earlier devotional icon. The panel is divided into three vertical sections, designed to support the glass substrate. The original likely served liturgical purposes, while this version appears to be a later reproduction, possibly for educational or devotional use.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts the Baptism of Christ, with Jesus standing in the Jordan River, flanked by John the Baptist and an angel holding a garment. Above, the Holy Spirit is shown as a dove radiating light upon the figures. Above the scene, Cyrillic script reads, "Botezul lui HS"—"The Baptism of the Lord." The composition follows traditional Eastern Orthodox iconography, emphasizing divine revelation and the Trinity manifest in the moment of baptism.

Technique & Style

Painted on glass, the image employs a palette of gold, red, brown, yellow, black, and blue, typical of Byzantine-influenced icons. Figures are rendered with stylized forms and flat perspective, prioritizing spiritual symbolism over naturalism. Delicate floral motifs in white and brown adorn the blue background, adding ornamental depth without disrupting the sacred hierarchy. The glass medium allows for luminous color effects, enhancing the celestial atmosphere of the scene.

History & Provenance

The wooden panel bears no date or maker’s mark, but the presence of a "REPLICA" inscription indicates it was produced after the original icon, likely in the 19th or early 20th century. Glass painting was a common technique in Eastern European iconography, particularly in regions under Ottoman or Russian influence. This version may have been made to replace a damaged original or to serve as a teaching aid in a monastery or parish.

Context

Icons on glass were widely used in Orthodox Christian communities, especially where wood was scarce or where durability was needed. The Baptism of Christ was a frequent subject, symbolizing purification and divine endorsement. The inclusion of Cyrillic script confirms its origin within a Slavic liturgical tradition. Such images were not merely decorative but functioned as focal points for prayer and theological instruction in domestic and ecclesiastical settings.

Legacy

This replica preserves the visual language of a centuries-old tradition, even as its material form signals a shift from sacred object to reproduced artifact. While the original glass icon may have been venerated in a church, this version reflects the broader dissemination of religious imagery in modern times. Its existence underscores how devotional art was reproduced and adapted across generations, maintaining continuity while acknowledging its status as a copy.