Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Oliver Samsinger
The Evangelist Matthew, after a Russian icon, school of Moscow, 15th century

About the Item

The Evangelist Mathew after a Russian Icon. School of Moscow, 15th century. Egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso, over a wooden board. Dimensions: (H) 52 x (W) 36 x (D) 3 cm. Saint Matthew, the Evangelist, is represented at his own desk, a true artisan laboratory. THE THECHNIQUE This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterwards, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with an agate. Gold leaf is real 24 carat gold . Now does the actual process of painting begin. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger (Vienna, 1968) began to take an interest in icons in 1990. He undertakes several trips to Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus to see in situ the original works treasured in these three countries. This experience will be crucial in his life, since the studies carried out in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, and his stay on Mount Athos constitute his greatest impulse and motivation to dedicate himself to making his own works, in a self-taught way, inspired by the models Russians and Byzantines that he had seen so closely, applying all his technical and artistic skills to his creations. Oliver studies the ancient tradition for the realization of icons: wooden support, egg tempera paint, gold leaf, special varnishes ... it is a long and very elaborate procedure by means of which he makes very personal replicas of important icons of the orthodox church. His icons have been exhibited in the Diocesan Museum of Vienna; also in the old Carmelite Church (KarmeliteKirche) and the Villa Wertheimstein in the same city between 2003 and 2006, and have also had successful presentations in Spain.
  • Creator:
    Oliver Samsinger (1968, Austrian)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20.48 in (52 cm)Width: 14.18 in (36 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Segovia, ES
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU74439418422

Shipping & Returns

  • Shipping
    Retrieving quote...
    Ships From: Segovia, Spain
  • Return Policy

    A return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.

1stDibs Buyer Protection Guaranteed
If your item arrives not as described, we’ll work with you and the seller to make it right. Learn More
About the Seller
4.9
Located in Segovia, Spain
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2002
1stDibs seller since 2017
53 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: A week
More From This SellerView All
  • Virgin of Tijvin, after a Russian icon of the 17th Century.
    Located in Segovia, ES
    Virgin of Tijvin, after a Russian icon of the 17th century. Egg tempera, gold leaf on gesso over a wooden board. Measurements in centimeters: 44 x 33 x 3 cm / In inches: 17.32 x 12.99 x 1.18 " Author: Oliver Samsinger...
    Category

    1990s Byzantine Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Christ Pantocrator after an Russian icon of the 15th Century
    Located in Segovia, ES
    Christ Pantocrator after a Russian icon of the 15th Century. Tempera and gold leaf on gesso over a wooden board. Measurements in centimeters: 38 x 29.5 x 3 cm. / In inches: 14.96 x...
    Category

    1990s Byzantine Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Saint John The Forerunner after a Russian Icon from the 16th Century
    Located in Segovia, ES
    Saint John, The Forerunner, after a Russian Icon from the 16th Century. Tempera and gold leave on gesso over a wooden board. Dimensions: (H) 33 x (W) 25,5 x (D) 4 cm. John, The Forerunner, is depicted as an ascetic desert saint with a tousled beard and a coat made from camel hair. The expression that transmits his beautiful face is very intense. This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterward, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with agate. Gold leaf is real 24-carat gold . Now does the actual process of painting begins. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water, and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger...
    Category

    1990s Byzantine Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Christ Pantocrator" After an Icon in the style of the Moscow School
    Located in Segovia, ES
    "Christ Pantocrator". After an Icon in the style of the Moscow school (15th century). Somewhat similar to that of Rublev. Author: Oliver Samsinguer Egg tempera and gold leaf on gesso and on wood. Dimensions; (H) 42 x (W) 33.5 x (D) 3.5 cm. (H) 16.54 x (W) 13.19 x (D) 1.38 in. This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterwards, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with an agate. Gold leaf is real 24-carat gold . Now, the actual process of painting begins. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water, and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger...
    Category

    1990s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Virgin of Kataphyge and St. John, after a Byzantine Bulgarian Icon 14th Century
    Located in Segovia, ES
    The Virgin of Kataphyge with Saint John the Evangelist, after a Bulgarian Byzantine icon of the 14th Century. Egg tempera and gold leaf on gesso and wood. Author: Oliver Samsinger...
    Category

    Early 1900s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Christ, the Great High Priest. Greek-Italian style Icon with silver oklad
    Located in Segovia, ES
    Christ, the Great High Priest. Greek-Italian style Icon with silver filigreed oklad. Egg tempera, over gesso on wood with a silver cover, "oklad", with pol...
    Category

    1990s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Silver

You May Also Like
  • Modern Art, Minimalist Art, Street Art-Shoulder Drip in Trichrome
    By Addison Jones
    Located in Delaware , OH
    Modern Art, Minimalist Art, Street Art-Shoulder Drip in Trichrome ABOUT THIS PIECE: This minimalist modern street art piece begins as a portrait photograph shot by the artist and e...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Modern Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • CUSTOM Contemporary Art, Gold Leaf Portrait, Modern Art-Harmony
    By Addison Jones
    Located in Delaware , OH
    CUSTOM Contemporary Art, Gold Leaf Portrait, Modern Art-Harmony ABOUT THIS PIECE: “Harmony, (Behtyie-A13)” is mixed media portrait art by Addison Jones featuring her own portrait ph...
    Category

    2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Gold & Despair
    By Johanna Schwarzbeck
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Gold & Despair is my adaptation of Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece "The Woman In Gold", also known as The Mona Lisa of Austria. Having admired the symbolic art of Klimt since my working days as a fine art restorer at Vienna’s prestigious Conservation Institute (Bundesdenkmalamt) in the 1980’s, I conceived the idea to recreate the jewel of his gilded period with an interpretive lens on the looming darkness of the Holocaust and World War II. As a native of Austria, Salzburg, I have developed an appreciation for Klimt’s art, and Art Nouveau in general. For the last thirty years, I have lived in New York City and worked as a fine art restorer, conservator, and painter as well as in the healing arts. Klimt had executed The Woman in Gold in the span of four years (1903-1907). My own creative process during 2014-2017, reflects my diligent care and thoroughness in rendering the original painting. In 2014, I started with the preparation of the canvas using Klimt’s original size of 54 x 54 inches (167 x 167 cm). For gesso, I used the traditional method of rabbit skin glue and chalk. For the painting, I used oil paints and genuine 23.5 karat gold in various shades, as well as silver leaves, to magnify the brilliant sheen of Klimt’s gold...
    Category

    2010s Romantic Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Judith & Donald
    By Johanna Schwarzbeck
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    This is my adaptation of Gustav Klimt’s "Judith and the Head of Holofernes.” Klimt’s painting depicts the biblical character of Judit...
    Category

    2010s Surrealist Mixed Media

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • Pieta - contemporary mixed media painting biblical portrait geometric golden
    By Marco Araldi
    Located in London, GB
    Marco’s background is in engineering and architecture, making him familiar with mathematical design and the awareness of geometry.
    Category

    2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

  • David - contemporary portrait, mixed media painting, biblical figure, Italian
    By Marco Araldi
    Located in London, GB
    Marco’s background is in engineering and architecture, making him familiar with mathematical design and the awareness of geometry.
    Category

    2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Gold Leaf

Recently Viewed

View More

The 1stDibs Promise

Learn More

Expertly Vetted Sellers

Confidence at Checkout

Price-Match Guarantee

Exceptional Support

Buyer Protection

Trusted Global Delivery