Artemis Gallery to Auction Important Museum-Exhibited Russian Icons &

Religious Art, March 23

Important pieces from Robicsek Collection were displayed at Mint Museum in 2003-4
and N.C. Museum of History in 2013-14

BOULDER, CO The 2003-4 Windows Into Heaven exhibition held at the Mint
Museum of Art in Charlotte, N.C., celebrated a period that was the zenith of Russian arts
long and illustrious history. The stellar exhibition that drew international media attention
featured 18th- and 19th-century Russian icons on loan from the Lilly and Francis
Robicsek collection. It would be another 10 years before the fabled icons were exhibited
again, at the North Carolina Museum of History. Now a select grouping of icons from
those two exhibitions has been chosen to headline Artemis Gallerys March 23 auction,
with absentee and Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.

Russian icons of this caliber are regarded as being at the pinnacle of devotional art,
along with the great works of Italian masters, said Teresa Dodge, executive director of
Artemis Gallery. Collectors can be assured that any piece with provenance from the
Lilly and Francis Robicsek collection is of premier quality. We are enormously proud to
be able to offer this very special art to our bidders.

The 177-lot auction will reverently reopen Windows Into Heaven with a pair of circa-
1890 arched, gold leaf Royal Door wing panels from a Russian Orthodox iconostasis
(icon screen). Ornately incised and decorated, the panels bear images of an Annunciation
scene and the Four Evangelists. The central doors of an iconostasis are called the Royal
Doors. They were regarded as holy and remained closed except during the Divine
Liturgy, when the priest would open them to consecrate the bread and wine, Dodge
explained. Highly important and with provenance from the Robicsek collection, the
Royal Door panels are estimated at $60,000-$90,000.

A 19th-century Russian calendar icon of grand scale (35- by 42.5-inches) known as a

minyela is quite literally a pictorial timetable of sainthood, with each figure
identified, and depictions of the feasts of the entire liturgical year. With its breathtaking
medley of jewel-tone colors against soft gold leaf, this treasured artwork formerly in the
Robicsek collection is expected to make $70,000-$100,000 at auction.

Yet another masterpiece from the Robicsek collection is a monumental late 19th-century
CE Theotokos, or Mother of God icon, depicting the Virgin Mary as mother of Jesus
Christ. Measuring 56.25 by 34.5 inches, the sacred painting presents the Virgin in a
flowing scarlet cloak discreetly adorned with gold stars, with the swaddled Christ Child
holding up a gold cross. Museum-exhibited with provenance from the Lilly and Francis
Robicsek collection, the Theotokos is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

From a Ventura County, Calif., collection comes an 18th-century CE Russian painted-

wood iconostasis with brass oklads surrounding a central panel and 14 hinged side
panels. Its uppermost register is finely painted with half-length portrayals of patriarchs
and prophets surrounding God the Father and the Son. Other images show full-length
saints engaged in intercessionary prayer and other religious depictions. The striking,
richly colorful artwork is offered with a $20,000-$30,000 estimate.

Other Russian icons of note in the auction include depictions of The Virgin of the Sweet
Kiss, The Virgin enthroned with Christ Emmanuel, Edessa (considered to be the first
icon), and numerous saints, monks, archangels and other holy figures. The range of
estimates is broad, allowing beginning and intermediate-level collectors to acquire icons
with impeccable provenance at prices they can afford.

Sharing the auction spotlight is a selection of beautiful Spanish Colonial Mexican santos,
also with provenance from the Robicsek collection. Teresa Dodge explained what santos
represent: Santos played an important role in bringing the Catholic Church to the New
World with the Spanish colonists. These religious figures were hand-carved and often
furnished with crowns, jewels, and other accessories. They were usually funded by
religious devotees and used as visual representations of the major figures Mary, Christ,
and the saints in teaching new, indigenous converts. Likewise, they served as a
connection to the Old World for Spanish colonists far from home. Many of them were
lovingly cared for over the years, with repairs and paint added as they aged. They played
an active part for a long time in the religious life of their communities.

A prime example of the New World religious art form is a 19th-century CE hand-carved
and polychrome-painted figure of San Blas (St. Blaise). The Armenia-born saint devoted
his life to medicine until his election to the episcopal diocese of Sebaste. He then
withdrew to a cave on Mt. Argeus to cure sick people and animals who came to him. The
34.25-inch-high santo depicts San Blas in traditional fashion as a bishop with a silver-
handled crosier, with two sheep at his feet. Estimate: $4,000-$5,000.

Another compelling artwork, a circa 18th-19th century CE hand-carved and polychrome

painted santo of La Purisima Concepcion or La Inmaculada depicts the praying saint
atop a globe and crescent moon, wearing a golden tin crown encircled by 12 blue, glass-
centered stars. Highly symbolic in its detail, the Spanish Colonial santo from either
Mexico or Guatemala is estimated at $6,000-$9,000.

Created specifically for religious processions, a circa-15th-century CE gilt copper cross

exemplifies the elite and uncompromising level of artistry achieved by Italian
metalsmiths of that period. Made in Tuscany during the High Renaissance, this
remarkable work of art was executed in repousse fashion with images of the Virgin and
Child on the niello roundels of each of the arms. With a long line of provenance that
includes owners in France and the United States, and previous sale at Sothebys, the cross
will open for bidding at $22,000. Its pre-sale estimate is $35,000-$45,000.

The March 23, 2017 auction also includes Spanish Colonial retablos, oil paintings and
other sacred art, as well as Russian jewelry and other religious objects. Bidders may
participate in the auction live online, by phone (please reserve phone line in advance) or
by leaving an absentee bid that will be lodged confidentially and competitively on their
behalf. All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic, as described in the
auction catalog, and legal to acquire per federal guidelines. The sale begins at 10 a.m.
Eastern Time. View the catalog and bid absentee or live via the Internet through
LiveAuctioneers. For additional information on any item, call Teresa Dodge at 720-890-
7700 or email teresa@artemisgallery.com. Visit Artemis Gallery online at
http://www.artemisgallery.com/.

CAPTION:

18th-century CE Russian painted-wood iconostasis with brass oklads, central panel and
14 side panels, ex Ventura County, Calif., private collection, est. $20,000-$30,000
Image courtesy of Artemis Gallery

Keywords: Auction, Russian Icon, artwork, Spanish Colonial Mexican santos,

Theotokos, iconostasis

Contact:
Teresa Dodge
Artemis Gallery
400 W. South Boulder Rd.
Lafayette, CO 80026
720-890-7700
teresa@artemisgallery.com
http://www.artemisgallery.com

About: Artemis Gallery is an ancient art gallery and antiquities dealer specializing in
Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Pre-Columbian art, as well as collections of Near Eastern,
Far Eastern and Oceanographic antiquities for sale. Our extensive inventory includes
ancient pottery, stone, metal, glass, textile objects and Pre-Columbian art from South
America, Central America and Mexico, as well as art from Greece Italy, Rome, Egypt,
the Middle East, China, India, Japan and the South Pacific. All antiquities for sale are
unconditionally guaranteed authentic for as long as you own them.

Quote:
Collectors can be assured that any piece with provenance from the Lilly and Francis
Robicsek collection is of premier quality. We are enormously proud to be able to offer
this very special art to our bidders.