Description in Icons, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2004, cat. no. 170:
The Nativity of Christ
Early 18th century, Central Russia
NMI 83

Wood: Linden (Tilia sp.), egg tempera.
Panel made of single board with two
splines inlaid from opposite sides.

Inscriptions: Indecipherable inscription
in Cyrillic letters along the left
edge.

PROVENANCE: Olof Aschberg;
Gift of O.Aschberg 1933
EXHIBITIONS: Gävle 1970, no 1; Stockholm
1988, no 40
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Kjellin 1933, no 83; Kjellin
1956, p 198; Stichel 1990, p 154 no 55
CONSERVATION: Restored prior to entering
NM: golden background restored, scatter -
ed retouches on borders; NM 1970: gluing,
stopping, retouching of edge damage. Nail
holes from lost metal cover along the edges;
darkened varnish.

The iconography and style originated
in Yaroslavl during the second-half of
the 17th century and during the 18th
century became popular and widespread,
particularly in Central Russia.
The extensive iconography is the subject
of a monograph.1The high quality
of the painting is worth of note.
At the time of its acquisition, the
icon had a silver mounting, probably
from the 19th century, mentioned
by Kjellin. This has since been lost.

1 Stichel 1990.
[slut]