Heartshaped Sts Joachim and Anne - contemporary byzantine icon- Valentines day couples gift Spousal love religious painting

St Anna at the news that she was with child: “…saw Joachim coming, and she ran and hung upon his neck…”

That is exactly the moment that this icon pictures, being a study from an older work made by an unknown master from of the 16th century, found in Sofia.

The use of a very bold, almost “explosive” red on the garments of Hannah, and the lines of the painting were ideal  in communicating  all this unexpected joy, all this energy gathered after countless years of longing and show it in this icon.

I hope their love and endurance can be seen in this small panel of  approx (13 x 15 cm) 

The heart -shaped slice of birch wood was applied with gesso  Egg tempera- shellac and then varnish was added to make it last.

Additionally the icon comes tenderly protected in its individual bag, together with its instructions how to care for it, a little sachet of herbs from our garden in Crete -and our custom icon favors - Ready to be given as a perfect gift