Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Study for the Programmatic Panel “Christ Pantocrator”. Palekh, Russia, 1990s. Cardboard, egg tempera, gold. 23 by 18 cm Executed as a panel Condition report: Surface staining. Provenance: From the family archive of the Golikov dynasty. Original work by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, created in the 1990s as a preparatory study for a major sacred composition. Preserved in the artist’s personal archive. A sacred image revealing the foundation of the Palekh tradition. In this work, Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov engages with the central iconographic type of Christ Pantocrator, demonstrating complete mastery of the Old Russian canon. The composition is defined by structural clarity, precision of contour and  inner composure. The face is rendered with exceptional concentration - direct, penetrating gaze; refined yet restrained features and an expression balancing severity and compassion. The work avoids decorative excess, focusing instead on the essential language of line and color. It offers insight into the formation of the image - from compositional structure to fully resolved painting. Collecting & Investment Potential: Sacred works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov represent one of the rarest and most private aspects of his oeuvre. They are significant because they are rooted in icon-painting tradition, reflect the philosophical depth of his late period and were rarely produced for the market Such works hold strong appeal for museum collections and advanced private holdings.