Authentic made in Italy
Handmade sacred icons, made in Italy to commission
A hand-painted icon is neither a reproduction nor a decorative object: it is a unique work, written by hand over months of labour and prayer, with the materials of the Byzantine tradition. In Concetta Basile's atelier in Sicily, every icon is created for a specific person, family or community.
What makes a handmade icon authentic
The panel
Seasoned wood prepared with many layers of gesso and animal glue, up to seven or more, hand-sanded.
The gold
23¾ karat gold leaf, laid by hand for grounds, halos and highlights: the uncreated Light.
The colours
Natural pigments, earths and minerals ground by hand and bound with egg yolk: egg tempera.
The canon
Every subject follows an ancient prototype, with gestures, colours and inscriptions set by Tradition.
The olifa
The final varnish of cooked linseed oil, applied after months of rest, which makes the icon radiant and protects it.
The prayer
An icon is «written» in prayer: it is theology in images, not decoration.
Made in Italy, in the Russian-Byzantine school
Concetta Basile is the granddaughter and direct pupil of Lia Galdiolo, one of the most authoritative figures in contemporary Italian sacred iconography, whose icons were present at audiences of Pope John Paul II and were exhibited in Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. From her she received a complete training in the technique of the Russian school.
Every stage, from preparing the panel to the olifa, is carried out by hand in the atelier in Sicily. There are no prints, transfers or industrial bases: this is why no two icons are alike, and why the timeframes are measured in months.
Who Concetta Basile paints for
- Families who want an icon to hand down: for a wedding, a birth, a new home.
- Collectors and connoisseurs of sacred art seeking a contemporary work executed with traditional technique.
- Churches, parishes, monasteries and religious communities.
- Architects and interior designers planning distinguished spaces, from private residences to chapels.
Sizes, shapes and finishes
Icons are made in sizes ranging from miniature (8×10 cm) to small gift icons (12×16 and 18×24 cm), home-altar sizes (24×30 cm), up to large formats for chapels and churches (30×40, 40×50, 50×70 cm) and fully bespoke dimensions. The panel can be rectangular, square, round or arched.
Every icon is fully gilded with 23¾ karat gold and richly detailed; you choose the subject, the size, the panel shape, inscriptions in Greek or Latin and, on request, a protective case or frame in solid wood. Every icon comes with a certificate of authenticity on real parchment with photographic documentation of every stage of work, and an explanatory booklet on its meaning, in Italian and also in English.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell an icon is truly handmade?
From precise material clues: gesso raised at the edges, the brilliance of gold leaf (which lacks the dot pattern of metallic ink), colour layering visible under raking light, the back of the panel. See our guide «Hand-painted or printed icon?».
Do you ship abroad?
Yes, we ship worldwide: icons are delivered in person or shipped within Italy, Europe and to any other country, with protective packaging and, on request, insured shipping.
How much does a hand-painted icon cost?
A sacred icon has no list price: it is not sold like merchandise. Those who commission it make an offering according to their means, proportionate to the time and materials its making requires (size, number of figures, inscriptions). The «Request your icon» page shows the estimated time of each stage; the offering is agreed with Concetta during the conversation.