THE ANNUNCIATION / BLAGOVESHTENIE
Early 14th c., 94.5 X 80.3 cm, Saint Clement, Ohrid
This icon is the most famous of the Ohrid collection. It has been reproduced innumerable times and has been the subject of many scientific analyses. The dominant figure is that of the Archangel Gabriel, who is depicted, in all his splendor, as a young Greek, radiating vigor and displaying a degree of formal beauty rare in the art of icon painting. The dark brown strip at the bottom right of the painting indicates the original colors before restoration work and shows the darkening effect of the "olifa".
CHRIST PANTOCRATOR / ISUS PANTOKRATOR
1262/1263, 135 X 73 cm, Saint Clement, Ohrid
The inscriptions on the back of this icon indicate that it originated in the period of the archiepiscopate of Constatine Cabasilas and thereby permit us to date it with precision, although the painter remains unknown. This sober, noble and majestic portrait glows with the intensity of the eyes, which exercise and irresistible fascination
CHRIST THE GIVER OF LIFE / ISUS PANTOKRATOR
1394, 131 X 88.5 cm, iconostasis of Zrze monastery, Skopje Art Gallery
This unusually large and well-preserved icon depicts Christ Pantocrator in all his austere majesty. The artist is the Metropolitan Jovan Zograf, the leader of a group of painters who worked in Serbia and Macedonia until the 15the century. In conformity with the canons, the Pantocrator, The All-powerful, is painted either as a half-or full-length portrait, enthroned or standing. The eyes fixed on the faithful, he raises one hand in blessing (the three outstretched fingers symbolize the Holy Trinity) and in the other holds the Gospel, sometimes open at different texts.
CHRIST PSYCHOSOSTIS
Processional two-sided icon, early 14th c., 94.5 X 70.5 cm, Saint Clement, Ohrid
The icon is covered by a particularly beautiful "rise" decorated with the busts of the twelve Apostles, of which only these (Peter, Paul, Andrew, John, Mark and Matthew) have been persevered. Processional icons have an opening in the middle of the lower edge (particularly visible on this one) for the pole by which they were carried.
SAINT CLEMENT OF OHRID / SVETI KLIMENT OHRIDSKI
17th c., 37 X 50 cm, Skopje Art Gallery
Saint Clement, bishop of Ohrid, died in 916. He was the patron of this town which was at that time of great importance, from both the political and the cultural point of view. Saint Clement was also an important writer in as much as he wrote, among other works, a biography of Cyril and Methodius.
THE CRUCIFIXION / RASPETIE HRISTOVO
13th c., 97 X 67 cm, Saint Clement, Ohrid
The reverse side of an icon representing the Virgin Hodeghetria, one of the most important icons of the Ohrid collection. Restored about fifteen years ago, it shows, when compared with the following plate, the importance but also the limitations of the restorer. A dark strip in the lower part of the figure of John is a reminder of the state of the icon before restoration. Whoever saw it in its former state may well wonder if the now bright colors correspond to the original conception. Certain p arts of the icon had t be completed and the question of just how far restoration work should go is one that poses itself particularly clearly in this case.
THE EVANGELIST MATTHEW / EVANGELIST MATEJ
End of the 13th - beginning of the 14th c., 106 X 56 cm, Saint Clement, Ohrid
In conformity with the canons which require St. Matthew to be depicted as an old man, the figure in this portrait has been given certain characteristics of advanced age. Nevertheless, the general impression is one of youthful animation. Holding in his hand an open Gospel which begins with the word: "This is the book the birth of Christ", he seems about to hand it to someone and is stepping forward to do so.
THE APOSTLE PETER / APOSTOL PETAR
Fragment of a Deesis with portraits of the apostles, 15th c., Saint Clement, Ohrid
This Deesis icon was discovered in 1960 by a collaborator of the Icon Collection of Saint Clement in Ohrid. The work in question is a frieze representing, in the center, the Deesis (Christ, the Virgin and St. John the Baptist) flanked on both sides by portraits of the apostles, The panel groups together scenes, which are normally the subject of, separate icons and which is part of the iconostasis; it must therefore come from a very small and narrow church. The icon is badly damaged, but the subtlety of the color shows, despite the clumsiness of certain details, the love which the painter felt for his subject .
THE APOSTLE THOMAS / APOSTOL TOMA
Fragment of a Deesis with portraits of the apostles, 15th c., Saint Clement, Ohrid
This Deesis icon was discovered in 1960 by a collaborator of the Icon Collection of Saint Clement in Ohrid. The work in question is a frieze representing, in the center, the Deesis (Christ, the Virgin and St. John the Baptist) flanked on both sides by portraits of the apostles, The panel groups together scenes, which are normally the subject of, separate icons and which are part of the iconostasis; it must therefore come from a very small and narrow church. The icon is badly damaged, but the subtlety of the color shows, despite the clumsiness of certain details, the love which the painter felt for his subject.
THE APOSTLE MATTHEW / APOSTOL MATEJ
Fragment of a Deesis with portraits of the apostles, 15th c., Saint Clement, Ohrid
This Deesis icon was discovered in 1960 by a collaborator of the Icon Collection of Saint Clement in Ohrid. The work in question is a frieze representing, in the center, the Deesis (Christ, the Virgin and St. John the Baptist) flanked on both sides by portraits of the apostles, The panel groups together scenes, which are normally the subject of, separate icons and which are part of the iconostasis; it must therefore come from a very small and narrow church. The icon is badly damaged, but the subtlety of the color shows, despite the clumsiness of certain details, the love which the painter felt for his subject .
THE VIRGIN EPISKEPSIS / BOGORODICA EPISKEPSIS (Detail)
14th c., 103.4 X 52.3 cm, Saint Clement, Ohrid
An approximate translation of the name of this icon (Episkepsis means Visitation) would be "the Virgin of Welfare". It is very similar to the famous "Vladimirskaya Virgin", which seems to have been inspired by it. This portrait in particular permit s one to study the pictorial technique used also in other periods and in no way limited to Serbia and Macedonia. The contour of the eyes and cheeks is olive-green, that of the nose and the mouth a bright red. The maphorion is decorated, on the forehead and the chest, with three stars - the symbols of eternal virginity.
