#01306 ICON PAINTING

The composition presents a central figure suspended from a wooden cross against a luminous gold background. The figures body is rendered with a degree of anatomical detail unusual for Byzantine iconography, though still stylized and flattened in perspective. A halo encircles the head, signifying divinity. Above the cross, inscriptions are visible, positioned within architectural frames that suggest a celestial realm.
Flanking the crucified figure are three additional figures. To the left stands a woman draped in crimson robes, her hands raised in a gesture of lamentation or supplication. Her face is turned towards the central figure, conveying profound sorrow. On the right, a Roman soldier, identifiable by his armor and helmet, appears to be observing the scene with an expression that could be interpreted as either detached curiosity or nascent understanding. A third figure, positioned between the woman and the soldier, also possesses a halo and extends a hand towards the crucified man; this individual’s posture suggests reverence and perhaps participation in the event.
Below the cross, a small pile of wood is visible, hinting at the instruments of torture used prior to the crucifixion. The overall color palette is dominated by gold, red, and flesh tones, contributing to an atmosphere of solemnity and spiritual intensity.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of sacrifice, suffering, and divine grace. The inclusion of the Roman soldier introduces a secular element into the sacred scene, potentially symbolizing the judgment of earthly power upon the divine. The womans grief underscores the human cost of the event, while the gesture of the third figure suggests an active role in witnessing and accepting this pivotal moment. The gold background serves not merely as decoration but as a visual representation of the heavenly realm from which grace descends. The work seems to aim at conveying both the physical reality of suffering and its spiritual significance within a larger cosmological framework.