19th C. Egg Tempera on Wood Panel Burning Bush Russian Icon with Mary, Jesus and Angels classical image I especially love those chimney

I especially love those chimney

Scratches and dings to the surface

which looks to me to be splitting a piece of wood

which would have been drawn on its surface in masticated charcoal pigment

It is a pretty fun and clever thing--when you close the scissor

19th C. Egg Tempera on Wood Panel Burning Bush Russian Icon with Mary, Jesus and Angels classical image I especially love those chimneyNothing quite as beautiful as egg tempera on wood, I'd say, best of all in blues and reds, and all the better as applied to representing an eight point star flanked with eight angels adamantly gesturing (as if performing semaphore!) as they surround Mary and Baby Jesus in this 19th c. Russian icon. Stunning color, striking composition, marvelous details, just gorgeous. With a bit of quick research I've learned that the eight pointed star in this