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Oliver Samsinger
Christ with the Angry Gaze - After a Russian Icon, 17th C.

$2,138.38
£1,604.18
€1,800
CA$2,960.75
A$3,217.82
CHF 1,724.46
MX$39,070.10
NOK 21,649.55
SEK 20,076.66
DKK 13,712.66

About the Item

Christ with the Angry Gaze (The Savior of the Burning Gaze), after a Russian icon from the mid-17th century Artist: Oliver Samsinger Technique: Egg tempera on gesso and wood, with 24-karat gold leaf application. Dimensions: 49 x 42 x 3 cm. Support: Wooden panel crafted from ceiling beams approximately 150 years old. Date: Contemporary. Description of the Work This icon portrays one of the most powerful and psychologically profound images in Orthodox iconography: the “Savior of the Burning Gaze.” Inspired by a 17th-century Russian prototype, the work captures the dual nature of Christ as both judge and redeemer. His direct, intense gaze is said to shift according to the viewer's conscience; tradition holds that his expression appears severe to the sinner, yet loving and gentle to the soul at peace. The artist, Oliver Samsinger, achieves this awe-inspiring presence through an absolute mastery of tempera, modeling the face with subtle transitions that grant it life and an inescapable authority. The background, covered in 24-karat gold leaf, isolates the figure from any earthly context, placing it within the eternal space of the divine. A Work that Connects with History and Spirit The choice of a 150-year-old wooden support is no small detail; the material itself is imbued with time, lending the icon a material resonance that complements its spiritual depth. This piece is not a mere copy but a living continuation of the Russian tradition, a bridge between the 17th century and the present. This work is more than a piece of art, is a spiritual object of power, whose gaze has challenged believers for centuries and now, through the hand of a contemporary master, continues its silent, transformative dialogue. Technique and Materials The panel is prepared with multiple thin coats of gesso over the antique wood, sanded smooth to receive the drawing and gilding. A layer of bole is then applied, followed by water gilding with 24-karat gold leaf, which is burnished with agate to achieve a radiant, mirror-like surface symbolizing the heavenly realm. The painting is executed in egg tempera—freshly mixed from egg yolk, water, and a touch of vinegar to bind the pigments—applied in numerous translucent layers from dark to light. This method produces exquisite detail and a durable, matte finish. Once cured over several months, the icon is traditionally sealed with an oil-based varnish known as olifa, ensuring both its protection and visual depth. About the Artist Oliver Samsinger (Vienna, 1968) is a unique figure in the contemporary art scene: an iconographer who has dedicated over three decades to the rigorous study of specialized techniques. His formative travels to Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and especially his experience on Mount Athos, have provided him with direct knowledge of the original masterpieces, which is reflected in the authenticity of his work. His icons, exhibited in museums and sacred spaces in Vienna and Spain, are contemporary interpretations that keep a thousand-year-old tradition alive with remarkable technical and spiritual fidelity.
  • Creator:
    Oliver Samsinger (1968, Austrian)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.3 in (49 cm)Width: 16.54 in (42 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Segovia, ES
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU744316907772

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