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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 83, The Whiteley Galleries

Icon

1774 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This icon comes from the Greek Orthodox church, where the veneration of holy images has always been of great importance. It may show St George of Cappadocia, a legendary martyr saint said to have died in Palestine towards the end of the 3rd century. He represents the triumph of good over evil and is often depicted as a mounted knight slaying a dragon.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Engraved and embossed silver
Brief description
Silver, wood and ivory, Greece, 1774
Physical description
A wood panel painted with a figure of Saint George, all, except the face of painted ivory, covered by a casing of engraved and embossed silver. Rectangular in shape, the casing enriched with floral scrolls.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.375in
  • Width: 4.25in
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed (In Greek) " St George" and " Gregory, Archbishop of Cassandra, 1774"
Gallery label
Icon This icon comes from the Greek Orthodox church, where the veneration of holy images has always been of great importance. It may show St George of Cappadocia, a legendary martyr saint said to have died in Palestine towards the end of the 3rd century. He represents the triumph of good over evil and is often depicted as a mounted knight slaying a dragon. Greek, dated 1774. Silver, wood, ivory and pigment Museum no. M.191-1926(22/11/2005)
Object history
Bought for £10. Received from J. Stuart Hay, 9 Chester Place, W.2.
Historical context
The Eastern Churches
The history of the church around and beyond the eastern Mediterranean is complex. The earliest eastern churches were established in Antioch, Alexandria and other cities in the 1st century. They were independent communities and theological controversy sharpened their differences.

In 330 Constantinople (now Istanbul) became the capital of the Roman empire. Successive bishops of Constantinople, later given the title of patriarch, gradually won authority over other eastern churches, despite the opposition of the pope. Churches that accepted the jurisdiction of the patriarch became known as Orthodox, but others, including those of Armenia and Ethiopia, developed along separate lines. Diversity of practice and doctrine in the eastern churches is reflected in the different kinds of regalia and sacred silver. Yet some forms such as the chalice are common to all, indicating a shared core of beliefs.
Subject depicted
Summary
This icon comes from the Greek Orthodox church, where the veneration of holy images has always been of great importance. It may show St George of Cappadocia, a legendary martyr saint said to have died in Palestine towards the end of the 3rd century. He represents the triumph of good over evil and is often depicted as a mounted knight slaying a dragon.
Collection
Accession number
M.191-1926

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Record createdFebruary 22, 2005
Record URL
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