The Temple Gallery company logo
The Temple Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Icons
  • Exhibitions
  • Archive
  • Contact
  • News
Menu

Artworks

Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Solovki Deesis, 18th century

Solovki Deesis, 18th century

Russian Icon
13 5/8 x 10 7/8 in
34.5 x 27.5 cm
2976
View on a Wall

Inscription in Slavonic: The gospel that Christ holds: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek.’ Matthew 11:28-29.

Read more

Inscription in Slavonic: The gospel that Christ holds: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek.’ Matthew 11:28-29


The Greek word ‘Deesis’ means literally ‘entreaty’ and is usually rendered today as Intercession. Certainly that was the meaning of the image of Christ Enthroned attended by The Virgin and John the Baptist from the period of the 13th century. However the composition is older and examples are known from the 9th century when the meaning was not so much that of intercession but rather that of honouring Mary and John as the first witnesses of Christ’s divinity. The composition soon grew into the so-called Extended Deesis or Great Deesis where many further intercessors were included. The top row of this icon depicts (left to right), Saint …, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Nicholas. The middle row depicts, Mary, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, and St John the Baptist. On the bottom row Sts Zossim and Savattii kneel at Christ’s feet.

The origin of the variant known as the Solovki Deesis is associated with the famous Transfiguration Monastery on the island of Solovki, by the shores of the White Sea

Close full details

Provenance

From the collection of a distinguished Byzantinist

Exhibitions

Christmas 2022

Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 The Temple Gallery
Site by Artlogic

The Temple Gallery, 6 Clarendon Cross, London, W11 4AP

Tel: 020 7727 3809 

Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Join the mailing list
Send an email

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences