THE FOLDING-ICON “THE MIRACLE OF ST.GEORGE AND THE DRAGON” WITH THE SAINT EQUAL TO APOSTLES PRINCE VLADIMIR AND RIGHT-BELIEVING PRINCE ALEXANDER NEVSKY
The First half of XIX Century; Cover and icon case with doors 1882
Wood, priming, mixed techniques, glass, walnut, silver, gilding
52,7 x 40,5 cm; board thickness: 13,3 cm
Receipt: transferred from the Special Repository of SHM
Showcase 5
Plaque of the cover: “Killed in action with the Turks in 1877th: Privates – Philip Porhunov and Saifula Fatkulin; died from wounds received same year: privates – Procopiy Ivanov, Alexander Korobovsky, Michey Pshenichny, Vlas Novikov, Eusebius Ivanov. Died of typhus in 1877 and 1878: Lieutenant - Nikolay Rakilevich; St.George Cavaliers: petty officer Nikita Shornikov, corporals Gregory Saveliev and Chariton Astashin, petty officers Peter Casackov, Fedor Gorbunov, Victor Vorontsov; privates Ephrem Nikolaev, Mikhail Lukyanov, Ivan Glebov, Yevdokim Yegorov, Akim Ivashkin, Ivan Kanunnikov, Nichifor Korobochkin, Michey Kemkin, Sergei Savichev, Cosma Ousov, Nikita Gulin, Pavel Stupin, Fedor Chernyayev, Vasily Artemyev, Vasily Kutuzov, Nikita Kondratyev, Yegor Mikhailov, Wojciech Ladyga, Joseph Lelenkevich, Efim Alexandrov, Valentin Krzyzhanowsky, Vasily Efremov, Pavel Zagajewsky, Pyotr Krukovsky, Ivan Szymansky, Michael Baransky, Sergei Bolshakov. The icon was renewed by the zeal of the rank and files of the 13th Company of the 2nd Rostov Grenadier Regiment under command of Captain Alekseev in 1882".
Insignia of The Decoration of the Military Order (since 1913 St.George's cross).
Folding icon St.George displayed in the permanent exposition of history of Russia of the XIX century in the State Historical Museum has suspension: on the radiant halo of St.George on the St.George ribbon hung 3 insignias of the Decoration of the Military Order of IV degree – Soldier's St.George cross.
The icon “The Miracle of St.George and the Dragon” was painted for 4th Company of the 2nd Rostov Grenadier Regiment in the beginning of the XIX Century, most likely in 1836. Later, after the end of the Russian-Turkish war, “the icon was renewed by the zeal of the rank and files of the 13th Company of the 2nd Rostov Grenadier Regiment under command of Captain Alekseev in 1882”. At the same time was made an icon case with doors on which were painted images of Saints. For a central part and shutters were ordered silver covers.
Skladen’ (folding icon) was received in the Historical Museum no later than 1930 from the former Military History Museum “... From the Second Rostov Grenadier Regiment”. This is confirmed by a pencil inscription on the back of the boards and on the metal memorial plate of the centerpiece with the names of soldiers killed in action.
The 2nd Rostov Grenadier Regiment was one of the oldest regiments of the Russian army. The history of the regiment starts back on June 25, 1700; the regimental holiday was the day of the Holy Trinity. The regiment since 1728 (with a short break 1811–1834) was stationed in Moscow. Since 1834 – in the Spassky barracks (Sadovaya-Spasskaya Str., 1). At the barracks was arranged the Church of the Holy Trinity. Currently, the entire complex of buildings also belongs to the Military.
Within more than two hundred years of its history the regiment has changed many its name, participated in almost every war that Russian Empire fought. In 1918, the 2nd Rostov Grenadier Regimen was disbanded and ceased to exist.
The merits of the regiment throughout its military history were adequately awarded. In the beginning of XX Century the regiment had the following awards:
1. The Regiment St.George banner with the inscription: “For excellence in defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812 and for excellence in the battle of September 20, 1877 at Haji Wali” and “1700–1900”.
2. Special badges on headwear with the inscription “For Excellence” granted on November 13, 1813 for feats and valor in the war with France in 1812 and 1813.
3. Two St.George pipes with the inscription “For the battle on the Alanzhin heights on October 3, 1877”.
The battle flag of the 3rd Battalion of the regiment of 1876 is kept in the Department of Fabrics of the Historical Museum.
The icon “The Miracle of St.George and the Dragon” in the center of folding icon is painted most likely in 1836 (judging by inscription on the back). Presumably the choice of this image was inspired by the fact that regiment was stationed in Moscow.
St.George the Victorious or Serpent fighter becomes the patron of the Princely and later the Royal family since the reign of Yaroslav the Wise (in the baptism of George). Since the time of Dmitry Donskoy Moscow begins minting coins with the horseman killing the dragon with a spear, that reminds of the most famous miracle of St.George. In times of the Grand Prince Ivan III the Horseman killing the Dragon became the emblem of the Principality of Moscow and Moscow itself.
Doors with images of Princes Vladimir and Alexander Nevsky were ordered presumably at the same time when the icon was “renewed” in 1882. Presumably the choice of these Saints is directly related to the realities of that historic period. The Holy Prince Vladimir was the Saint Patron of the Governor-General of Moscow Prince Vladimir Andreevich Dolgorukov, and the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky was the Sant Patron of the Emperor of Russia Alexander III.
The cover of the folding icon is made of gilded silver. Manicuring is dated precisely by the marks on the right door: fineness mark of silver 84 of Moscow Studio and the mark of the craftsman “S.G.V." – Volkov Selivestr Gerasimovich, the owner of the silver jewelry workshop in 1880–1897.
The icon-case of the triptych is made of walnut, stained to mahogany, dates around 1880s of the XIX Century.
On the radiant halo on the St.George ribbon hung the three insignias of the Decorations of the Military Order of IV degree - soldier's St.George cross. The award for the rank and files of the Russian army, ranked to the Order of St.George, was the highest award for soldiers and petty-officers for military merits and valor displayed in actions against the enemy.
All Three St.George's Crosses were awarded for the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878.
Insignia of the Decoration of the Military Order No. 56264 was awarded soldier of the 1st Infantry Company of the 2nd Rostov Grenadier Regiment Grigoriy Savelyev for battle on October 3, 1877 on Aladjinsky heights. Signs №№ 63029 and 63024 were received by Petty-officer of the same company Nikita Shornikov and Private Khariton Astashin for storming Kars on the night of 5 to 6 November, 1877.
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