Hand-painted Byzantine icons · Made in ItalyA
Spiritual Heritage for Your Family
You are not commissioning a painting. You are welcoming a sacred presence that will bless your home and future generations.
The Presence of the Sacred in Daily Life
Every environment can become a sanctuary
Icons for domestic protection and daily prayer.
Spiritual and material heritage for generations
In Your Home
Protect those you love. The presence of the icon blesses the family, brings peace in conflicts.
Divine protection from day one
In the Nursery
The most precious gift for your child. Every newborn deserves the protection of the Madonna. An icon in the nursery watches over the child's sleep.
The spiritual heart of your dwelling
In Your Living Room
Where the family gathers. The living room is the heart of the home. An icon here sanctifies every shared moment.
Peace for nightly rest
In the Bedroom
The place of rest and intimacy, guarded by the benevolent gaze of the Virgin or Christ.
Beauty that unites
In the Sitting Room
Enrich the common space with a work of art that invites contemplation and spiritual dialogue.
Every step a blessing
On the Stairs
A passage that becomes ascension. Every step accompanied by the beauty of the sacred.
Why a Sacred Icon?
In an ephemeral world, an icon is an anchor of eternity. It is a work that does not age, but grows in value with the passing years
Sacred Presence
Every icon transforms the space it inhabits. At home, it brings peace and protection. In the office, it blesses your daily work. Every line, color, and gesture carries a profound theological meaning handed down through the centuries. Each element embodies a realm of creation: the wood of the panel alludes to the plant kingdom, the fish glue and hide to the animal kingdom, the metal oxides and earth to the mineral kingdom. Gold is not luxury but eternity, light, wisdom - sometimes replaced by scarlet red with identical meaning. It is theology incarnate in matter.
Eternal Investment
A spiritual and artistic treasure destined to be passed down to children and grandchildren, creating an unbreakable bond between generations. Icons by great masters like Andrei Rublev were commissioned by princes and great monasteries as supreme gifts. Ancient icons are today considered priceless treasures, preserved in the world's most important museums. Your icon will grow in value over the years, a sacred heritage to be handed down.
Prayer Time
Creating an icon is to relive the seven days of Creation. First the polished panel like the first day of Genesis. Then the sacred geometry - vertical, horizontal, diagonal - the supporting structure like the skeleton to the body, the Divine Architect's design. The engraving makes irreversible the work of the Holy Spirit. Gold is applied first - eternity and beauty. Colors begin dark like obscure Scripture not yet understood, then through 'writing' (tracing the engraving) the form becomes precise, in 'meditation' beauty is glimpsed as a promise, in 'illumination' increasingly lighter layers make the icon luminous until the sixth day when 'it was very good'. Then follows rest - months for the colors to consolidate, the seventh day - then the final olifa that makes the icon radiant: time of prayer and contemplation. Families commissioned the icon a year before sacred events, periodically visiting the iconographer to pray together before the work being born.
A Heritage of Mastery
A sacred tradition handed down from generation to generation, recognized by the Orthodox Church and the Holy See.
THE MASTER
Lia Galdiolo
One of the most authoritative figures in the panorama of contemporary Italian sacred iconography. Known for her spiritual depth, fidelity to the Iconographic Tradition, and the compositional finesse of her works.
PAPAL RECOGNITION
Her icons were present at some audiences of Pope John Paul II. Works preserved in the Vatican
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
works were exhibited in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and in prestigious ecclesiastical venues around the world.
THE MIRACLE OF MEDJUGORJE
Her icon of the Merciful Jesus exhibited in Medjugorje became a sign of grace with documented miracles, including that of Ugo Festa.
PUBLICATIONS
Author of the book "Le icone. L'amore misericordioso e la donna vestita di sole" (Editrice Ancilla, 1991). Mentioned in "Reconciliation and Penance" by Don Sante Babolin.
The Icon of the Holy Face received ecclesiastical approval and the imprimatur of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Messina, Monsignor Giovanni Accolla, confirming the theological and contemplative value of her work.
THE ICONOGRAPHER
Concetta Basile
Niece and direct student of Lia Galdiolo, Concetta received an integral formation that combines family and spiritual transmission with an intense life of prayer.
Stylistic Rigor
Her icons are distinguished by absolute fidelity to the technique of the Russian school and the millennial Iconographic Tradition.
Theological Delicacy
Every icon is born from prayer and meditation, embodying the spiritual depth proper to an authentic servant of the Mystery.
Spiritual Creativity
Renews the iconographic language while remaining fully anchored to the theology of the face and contemplative silence.
SIGNIFICANT WORK
Among her works, the icon 'Saint Joseph the Nurturer', commissioned by Archimandrite Father Alessio Mandanikiotis, is an extraordinary example of faithfulness to Tradition and spiritual creativity — although it is a newly conceived icon
ECCLESIASTICAL ATTESTATION
Testimony of the Orthodox Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
"In the world of iconography, transmission between generations is a privileged and authentic way of guarding Tradition. Concetta Basile, in the spiritual furrow traced by her grandmother, continues today a coherent, inspired and fruitful iconographic ministry, not by imitation, but by genuine adherence to the mystery that the icon communicates."
"I attest with full conviction that Concetta Basile exercises the received sacred art with seriousness, prayer and competence, and I strongly encourage those who work in the ecclesial, cultural and artistic world to support, value and promote her path."
Archimandrite Hieromonk
Father Alessio Mandanikiotis
Holy Orthodox Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Jurisdiction of Italy and Malta — Hermitage of Candelora, Santa Lucia del Mela
23¾ Karat Gold
Leaves applied with ancient technique
Natural Pigments
Hand ground, like a thousand years ago
Prayer and Time
Months of spiritual work
Visual Theology
Every detail has sacred meaning
The Journey of the Icon
From commission to veneration: a path of faith and beauty
The Commission
Commission your icon months in advance. Choose the sacred subject that will accompany the recipient's life: Christ Pantocrator, the Madonna, a specific event, a protective Saint.
The Creation
The board is prepared with gesso and glue. Each layer dries in prayer. The drawing is traced with precision. Natural pigments ground by hand. Gold applied leaf by leaf.
The Progress
You can visit the iconographer or receive updates to see your icon grow, participating spiritually in its creation. Every step will be a moment of wonder.
Your Icon
Finally, the icon is ready. It is not just a work of art: it is a window to the Divine created for you, imbued with prayer. A spiritual treasure to cherish.
The Art of Creation
Every icon is born through a millennial process of patience, prayer, and mastery.
The Preparation
The seasoned wood board is prepared with layers of gesso and rabbit glue, following centuries-old techniques. Each layer requires days of drying and prayer.
Natural Pigments
Ochre, lapis lazuli, cinnabar, and rare earths are hand-ground in a stone mortar. Pure colors like those used by ancient masters, mixed with egg yolk.
Gold Powder
23¾ karat gold is applied with infinite delicacy. Gold represents the divine light that never sets, symbol of eternity.
The Sacred Face
The most sacred moment: the face emerges brushstroke after brushstroke, in constant prayer. The eyes, the gaze that will follow you forever, require maximum spiritual concentration.
Precious Details
Halos, ornaments, and inscriptions are traced with very fine brushes. Every golden line follows millennial iconographic canons, every symbol has a precise theological meaning.
Consecration
Olifa, boiled linseed oil according to the ancient Russian recipe, seals and protects the icon. After months of work, the window to the Divine is ready to be blessed and venerated.
"Every phase is an act of prayer. The iconographer does not paint: writes with colors and gold a love letter to Heaven, destined to last for eternity."
The Sacred Language of the Icon
Every element of the icon speaks a millennial theological language.
"The whole world immersed in images that profane the spirit and the body and pollute the soul, will be overcome by the weapons of sweetness, smallness, beauty that emanate from the small humble Holy Icons."
In an era saturated with ephemeral and profane images, the icon offers a refuge for the gaze. Contemplating the icon is an act of purification: the eyes, accustomed to the visual chaos of the world, find the quiet of eternal beauty.
Spiritual Insights
In the Silence of Signs
The icon has no voice but is capable of penetrating the heart more deeply than a scream in the night. For those who listen with simplicity, it pronounces the truest and most convincing words, such as to heal all our illnesses, of body and spirit.
Nostalgia for Mysterious Beauties
The world of the icon opens unthinkable horizons to Western man, accustomed to the materialistic vision of life. To today's man who does not pose the problem of a sublime inner world, the icon proposes again the beauty that can change life.
The Word Made Color
In the heart of Christianity was born the need to express, through the image, what the Sacred Scripture says with words. Sacred art has reached the highest peaks of human creativity because it has involved itself with Divine Beauty.
Invitation to the Humility of Silence
"I am speechless!" is the most recurring phrase of those who see the icons. This is the first fruit of the icon! Contemplating in image the Wisdom that became flesh leaves us astonished. Silence is the channel for God to speak to us.
Truth Without Shadows
The icon shows us charity without economy, shows us the way without losing us in dead ends. It is the immediacy of a message brought without arrogance of superiority. It is truth that heals, calms, that opens us to knowledge.
Ceaseless Prayer of the Church
If prayer is realizing a relationship with God, the icon is a chosen instrument. Over the centuries the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has used the icon in the Sacred Liturgy to adore, praise and pray to the Lord.
Presence that Does Not Disappoint
Covered in gold like the Ark of the Covenant, the icon even if small, contains in image the Uncontainable, to whom it pleases to reveal and manifest himself in simple and humble ways without losing his greatness.
Theology of the Simple
Sublime art, it expresses theological concepts without superstructures and heavy doctrinal disquisitions. The icon makes the depth of the Christian faith accessible to everyone.
Light that Illuminates Without Blinding
Flame that does not burn, like the burning bush. Staticity charged with dynamism that contrasts with the illusory dynamism of the world. Gaze of God that changes our heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
What is an Icon?
The icon is the Word of God painted and is essentially symbolic. When we place ourselves in front of an icon it is important to know how to read the meaning of the symbols, to prevent our attention from stopping at the aesthetic appearance, preventing the intelligence from grasping the deep sense of the message.
- I.In the materials used to build it (wood, minerals, gold)
- II.In the shape of the board and its subdivisions
- III.In the sacred geometry that expresses theology and in numbers
- IV.In the drawing: posture of bodies, folds of vestments, colors
- V.In the inverse perspective: buildings, mountains, backgrounds
- VI.In the quality of colors and their symbolic composition
- VII.In the construction times: from the board to the final olifa
Sacred Numbers
Symbolism of Colors
Eyes that See the Soul
In the icon, large and penetrating eyes look directly at the observer. You do not look at the icon: the icon looks inside you.
"He who prays before the icon is watched by Eternity"
Beyond Mortal Time
Iconographic faces are without wrinkles, without signs of time. Every feature is stylized because the icon does not portray mortal flesh, but the glorified body.
"The icon shows man as God sees him: redeemed"
Uncreated Light
Gold is not decoration: it is theology. It represents the Uncreated Divine Light. The halo indicates holiness.
"Where there is gold, there is the presence of Heaven"
Folds of Light and Spirit
The folds of the vestments do not follow earthly gravity: they are geometric, stylized, luminous. They indicate that the body is transfigured by the Spirit.
"The vestments reveal the inner light of the saint"
Hands that Speak
Elongated and tapered fingers are instruments of blessing and teaching. The position of the fingers forms Greek letters: IC XC (Jesus Christ).
"Every gesture is a silent prayer"
Every Color is a Symbol
Blue: Heaven. Red: blood and love. White: purity. Green: life. Gold: eternity.
"Colors are the silent words of faith"
"Rather than multiplying words to explain a concept, Jesus often spoke in parables. The icon, in the same way, through symbols manages to condense into a small space vast and complex arguments in a simple, immediate and accessible way."
"The icon is written not to be admired as a work of art, but to be prayed as a door to Heaven. He who understands its language, understands the mystery of faith."
— Tradition of Iconographic Fathers
The Gifts of an Icon
Eternal Beauty
Icons are timeless works of art that enrich any space with their lasting beauty.
Spiritual Depth
Every icon is a window to the Divine, offering a constant spiritual presence that inspires and comforts.
Customization
Made to measure, icons can commemorate significant personal events like weddings, births, baptisms, ex-votos, or anniversaries.
Link to Tradition
They connect to the rich heritage of the Church, keeping alive the stories of saints and biblical events.
Meaningful Gift
Perfect as gifts, icons bring meaning and beauty into the lives of those who receive them.
Respectful Decoration
They provide a decoration element that is both respectful and uplifting, suitable for homes and workplaces.
Where to Place Your Icon
Prayer Corner
The sacred space par excellence, where the family gathers for daily prayer and meditation.
Bedroom
Watches over your rest, bringing peace and protection during the night hours.
Entrance
Blesses those who enter and leave, protecting the threshold of your dwelling.
Studio or Office
Inspires your daily work with the presence of the sacred, blesses every decision.
Children's Room
The Guardian Angel or the Madonna watches over the sleep of the little ones.
Living Room
Center of family life, where the icon becomes a focal point of beauty and faith.
The Sacredness of the Icon
Icons are sacred and their spiritual value infinitely exceeds the material one. An icon is not 'sold' like any other object.
What You Commission
The iconographer's work: months of prayer, study, board preparation, gold application, writing of the image.
What You Receive
A window to the Divine, written especially for you, imbued with prayer, that will bless your places for generations.
The Materials
23¾ karat gold, hand-ground natural pigments, boards prepared according to ancient tradition. To God goes the best.
"When you commission an icon, you are not buying an object. You are participating in an act of faith, offering God time, prayer, and the most precious materials. The icon born from it is a blessing, not merchandise."
Ecclesiastical Attestation
A Shared Gift
Often an important icon is the fruit of the love of many
"In the East, commissioning an icon is often a community act: families, friends and communities joined together to offer God the best."
Friends Joining Together
A group of friends can join forces to gift an icon to those they love. A collective gift that becomes a testimony of friendship and shared faith.
United Families
In-laws, grandparents and relatives often join to gift newlyweds or a newborn something that grows in spiritual and material value.
Community in Prayer
A parish or prayer group can commission an icon together for the church or for a special member. The community that prays together gifts together.
Whatever path you choose, you are participating in something eternal.
Handmade sacred icons, made to measure
Guides, subjects and occasions: everything you need to know to choose and commission a hand-painted icon.
Request your icon
Request your hand-painted 23¾ karat gold icon: choose subject, size and Greek or Latin inscriptions within the canon and see the time each stage requires. Photo documentation, booklet and certificate on parchment.
Handmade icons
Handmade Byzantine icons made in Italy to commission: wooden panel, gesso, egg tempera and 23¾ karat gold leaf. Unique works by iconographer Concetta Basile.
Subjects
Virgin of Tenderness, Christ Pantocrator, Holy Face, Holy Family, Saint Joseph, patron saints and Guardian Angel: Byzantine icons hand-painted to commission in Italy.
Commission
How to commission a bespoke hand-painted Byzantine icon from Italy: choosing the subject, size, gilding, timing, progress updates, explanatory booklet and worldwide delivery.
Collectors and galleries
Contemporary hand-painted Byzantine icons for collectors, galleries, architects and interior designers: unique works, Russian-Byzantine school, documentation and provenance.
Icons as gifts
A hand-painted icon as a gift for a baptism, birth, wedding, first communion, confirmation or ordination. A unique, made-to-measure gift, made in Italy.
Why give an icon
A hand-painted icon is a spiritual and material investment passed from father to son, as the oldest Christian tradition teaches. Why give one and how to choose it.
The iconographer
Concetta Basile, Sicilian iconographer: granddaughter and pupil of Lia Galdiolo, Russian-Byzantine school, attested by the Orthodox Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Biography and works.
Request Your Icon
Begin your spiritual journey today.
Book an Appointment
Choose a time to speak directly with Concetta Basile about your project.