A large icon of St Peter the Apostle, probably Moscow, circa 1900

A large icon of St Peter the Apostle, probably Moscow, circa 1900

the panel shows Saint Peter from the Deisis tier of an iconostasis. There is no identifying inscription but the Saint is recognizable by the yellowish colour of his chiton, typical beard and hairstyle and from his position, traditionally on the right of Christ and opposite Saint Paul. Peter holds a scroll with the letters ‘ТЫ ЕС’, the beginning of the phrase, conventionally associated with the iconography, ‘ТЫ ЕСИ ХРИСТОС, СЫН БОГА ЖИВАГО’. Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God. Matthew 16.16.

106 by 37.8cm; 41¾by 14⅞in.