Antique Icon Egg Tempera Saint John

Antique religious icon, egg tempera and gilt on wooden panel. Egg tempera, a pigment, is one of the oldest, most versatile and most durable methods of painting. Said to date back to prehistoric times, it is generally unaffected by humidity and temperature changes.

This icon portraying an scene of an executioner delivering on a gold or gilded salver the severed head (missing) of St. John to Salome, Saint John the Baptist. In Christianity John is known as "the Baptist" from baptizing Jews in the River Jordan. Most notably he is the one who recognized Jesus as the messiah and, on Jesus' request, baptised him. The baptism marked the beginning of Jesus' life as a teacher. According to the Canonical Gospels, John the Baptist's public ministry was suddenly brought to a closeprobably about six months after he had baptized Jesus when he was imprisoned for censuring the incestuous marriage between Herod Antipas and Herodias, the wife of his brother. 

We believe this to be earlier than 17th century. The scene is observed by figures on an open (upper) gallery. Old dried worm holes present. The hand forged wrought iron hook for wall hanging is original and of the period.