Asset number
491244001
Description
Icon; painted; St Boniface is portrayed in the centre against a gold background wearing a red robe under a green ‘himation’; he raises his right hand in a gesture of benediction and holds a closed scroll in his left. Above him, in clouds, is Christ blessing with both hands. Around the saint are 16 scenes of his martyrdom. They are, clockwise from top left: 1. Aglaida presents gold to Boniface. 2. The saint departs to acquire the relics. 3. The saint kisses the feet of two martyr saints. 4. Boniface preaches to the hiegemon. 5. The saint is hung from a tree. 6. A stick is plunged into the saint’s leg. 7. Molten tin is poured into the saint’s mouth. 8. The hiegemon orders the saint to be tortured. 9. The saint is immersed in a cauldron of boiling tar. 10. An angel rescues the saint. 11. Boniface is beheaded. 12. His head is found by peasants. 13. The saint’s head is reunited with his body. 14. An angel appears to Aglaida in her sleep. 15. The body of the saint is carried by peasants. 16. The installation of the saint’s relics by Aglaida in a church. Inscriptions: by Christ's head, in Greek IC (XC); in Christ's halo OWN (I am Being); in each scene, either above or in the saint’s halo, is his name in Church Slavonic, in some instances erased; in the centre above the saint’s head in red on a gold background: ?????? ??????? ?????????? (St Martyr Boniphatios); around the central scene are 16 further scenes from the saint’s life, all with accompanying inscriptions, clockwise from top left: 1. ??????? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ?????????? ????? (Aglaida gives gold to Boniphatios to redeem relics). 2. ?????? B????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????E (Boniphatios departs to redeem the relics laughing at Aglaida). 3. ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ? ???????? ???? ?? (Boniphatios kisses Martyr Saints and kisses their feet). 4. ?????????? ??????????? ????? ?????H?? ?????? ?????E???? (Boniphatios preaches before the hiegemon without fear). 5. ????? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ???????? (Judge orders that the naked Boniphatios is hanged without delay). 6. ??????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ? ???? ? ???? ????? (A sharp stick is plunged into St Boniphatios’ hand and leg). 7. ???????????? ????? ??????? ? ???? ??????? ?????????? (Molten tin is poured into St Boniphatios’ mouth). 8. ???? ?????? ?????T??? ?? ????????? ???T??? ?????????? (Thus, hiegemon sends St Boniphatios to be tortured). 9. ?????? ?????????? ? ?????? ?????????O? ?MO?? ??????? (St Boniphatios is put in a cauldron with boiling tar). 10. A???? ????????? ????? ????? ?????? ? ????? ????? ?????? ?????????? (An Angel of Our Lord descends to soak the cauldron and St Boniphatios gets out unhurt). 11. ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? (Beheading of St Boniphatios. Milk exudes from his wounds). 12. ?A?? ?????? ???? ??????????. ????????? ????? ? ????? (Serfs recognize the body of Boniphatios. They put his head on his body). 13. ???? ????? ?M??????? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ????? (Serfs see the laughing head of St Martyr Boniphatios). 14. A???? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????????? (An Angel of Our Lord appears to Aglaida in a dream and commands her to accept the relics of St Boniphatios). 15. ????? ??????? ???? ????????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????H???B? (Aglaida assembles church priests. They go to see the relics of St Boniphatios). 16. ?????? ??????? ??????? ? ????? ???? ??????? ????H??? ?????????? (Aglaida establishes a church and puts the relics of St Martyr Boniphatios in there). Egg tempera, gold, gesso on wood.
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