Of arched form, realistically painted on metal, depicting Saint Sampson the Hospitable in full length, holding the Gospels, with a silver mount, the reverse with velvet backing, mounted with a silver plaque engraved with a dedication inscription in Russian 'To His Imperial Highness and Heir to the Throne Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich / Blessing of the Heavenly Patron of the Glorious Battle of Poltava St. Sampson the Hospitable / A Faithful Offering from the Organizing Committee for the Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of St. Sampson’s Cathedral Founded by Emperor Peter I in Memory of the Victory at the Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 / 25 March 1910', marked on lower rim with maker’s mark, the plaque with maker's mark of E.E. Parkinen; in a fitted Hammer Galleries case
11⁵⁄₈ in. (29.5 cm.) high

Acquired by Matilda Geddings Gray (1885-1971) from Hammer Galleries, New York, in the late 1940s / early 1950s.
By descent to Matilda Gray Stream (1924-2023) and descendants.

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Lot Essay

This rare icon of Saint Sampson was presented to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-1918), the son of Nicholas II, by the Organizing Committee for the celebration of the bicentenary of St. Sampson’s Cathedral, the oldest surviving church in St. Petersburg. The original wooden church was built in 1710 in honor of St. Sampson the Hospitable. It was on this saint’s feast day that Peter I defeated Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava in 1709.

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of both the battle and the cathedral’s foundation, the cathedral established a special Organizing Committee composed of priests and deacons, honorary parishioners, artists, and architects. The committee was chaired by the cathedral’s priest, Vladimir Pokrovsky, and the cathedral’s architect, Andrey Aplaksin.

The Hammer Galleries invoice for this icon records its provenance as the quarters of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoe Selo.