Figure of a Saint

The wooden sculpture demonstrates a full-length, frontal figure of a king. The ruler's head is crowned with a massive, serrated diadem, serving as an iconographic marker of the Old Testament kings David or Solomon. The saint's arms are extended outwards, though due to the passage of time, the hands have been lost, which may have once held attributes identifying the subject portrayed. The king is clad in a long chiton, over which is draped an ornately decorated mantle, its borders adorned with raised circular elements mimicking precious gemstones. The lower hem of the chiton and the upper edge of the cloak terminate in a scalloped edge.
The drapery folds upon the garments are modelled with shallow, smooth, vertical lines that lend stability and monumentality to the figure. The frontal rigidity of the posture is somewhat softened by the gentle fluidity of the attire's folds.The face of the saint is carved with a distinct emphasis on expressiveness. The king's face is elongated, featuring large eyes with deeply incised eyelids, a straight nose, and a thick, long beard divided into wavy strands that cascade onto the chest. The synthesis of royal grandeur within the iconography and the somewhat simplified yet profoundly expressive plasticity of the countenance renders the sculptural depiction a striking specimen of sacred art.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery