37. Icon on glass, "Saint George the Great Martyr killing the dragon", attributed to Ioan Matei Purcariu, end of the 19th century-beginning of the 20th century, extremely rare piece.

The icon depicts Saint George in the canonical pose of killing the dragon with a spear. In the background, a castle is represented, inside which is the young woman saved from death. The background of the composition is completed by a vegetal decor specific to Matei Țîmforea's (the father) style: a continuous floral stem, periodically interrupted by symmetrically arranged flowers and leaves, as well as by two small crowns at the center of which there is a flower. These decorative-compositional elements unequivocally indicate that the author had direct access to the sources of icon painter Matei Țîmforea. The composition is enclosed by a decorative frame, decorated with geometric motifs.

Dimensions

width 43 cm, height 54 cm

Description

Tempera and gold foil on glaze, frame, with clasp

Research information

Among the few icons that have been preserved and can be attributed to Ioan Matei Purcariu, a few relevant stylistic observations can be formulated. First of all, the drawing is correct and carefully done, but without the refinement specific to the established painters of the region. In the second place, the color palette is lively, yet subdued; tones are faded, lacking in brightness - white, blue, red with shades of pink. The artist highlights faces and hands of characters in pink hues and enhances expressiveness through subtle shadows in the eye area. The inscriptions are simple, devoid of the refined ornamentation specific to mural painting, stylistically close to those of his father, Matei.

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