Icon of Saint Anthony the Great — Painted on Tree Bark

This hagiography depicts Saint Anthony the Great, considered the father of Christian monasticism. Born in 251 AD in Egypt, to a wealthy and virtuous family, he soon decided to abandon worldly possessions to withdraw into the desert.

His life became the very model of the Christian ascetic: renouncing all possessions, he devoted his existence to prayer and spiritual struggle in solitude, inspiring generations of monks after him. He fell asleep in peace at the remarkable age of 105.

A distinctive feature of this piece: it is painted directly on tree bark, whose natural relief and irregularities give each piece a raw, singular character, in keeping with the austere, stripped-down life of the saint it depicts.

The icon shows him holding a scroll, following the traditional iconography of the Desert Fathers, recalling his spiritual teaching, passed down orally and later recorded by his disciples. The Orthodox Church celebrates his memory on January 17 each year.

In a 36 x 20 cm format, this hagiography pairs a colored background with the natural texture of the bark, for a one-of-a-kind piece bearing the iconographer's signature.

Given for his feast, a baptism, or to enrich a collection of religious items, this icon of Saint Anthony the Great honors the founder of a spiritual tradition still living, nearly eighteen centuries after his death.