The oldest gift
A hand-painted icon as a Christmas gift
At Christmas we celebrate God made visible: that is why the icon, which makes the Face of Christ visible, is the Christmas gift most true to the feast. It is not unwrapped and forgotten: it stays in the home, is prayed before, and one day will pass to the children.
The Nativity icon
The Byzantine Nativity icon tells the night of Bethlehem in a single image: at the centre the Mother of God lying beside the cave, the swaddled Child in the manger, the ox and the ass, the ray of the star descending from heaven. Around them the angels, the shepherds and the Magi on their way; below, Joseph deep in thought and the midwives bathing the Child.
The dark cave is the world awaiting the light; the swaddling bands and manger already announce the tomb and the altar. It is an icon to read together as a family, every Christmas.
Other subjects for Christmas
Mother of God of Tenderness
The Child pressed to his Mother's face: the tenderness of Christmas in one image.
Holy Family
Mary, Joseph and Jesus: the gift for a family gathered around the Christmas table.
Christ Pantocrator
The Child of Bethlehem is the Lord of all: for those wishing for a central icon.
The name saint
A personal gift for a child, a grandchild, a godchild.
When to commission it
An authentic icon takes months of work: those who want it under the tree should commission it in spring or summer. If Christmas is close, contact the atelier anyway: size and timing are assessed together, and you can arrange to announce the gift at Christmas with the first photograph of the panel in progress and the story of the chosen subject, delivering the icon when it is complete.
For those living far away, the icon can be shipped directly to the recipient, with the booklet in Italian or English. Shipping conditions are checked at the time of commission.
Icon by the tree
The Mother of God in a Christmas living room.
Virgin of Tenderness
Round panel, decorated gold ground.
Holy Family
Floral border, Latin inscription.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there time to have an icon for Christmas?
It depends on when you commission it and on the size. If time is short, the gift can be announced at Christmas with the first photographs of the work and the icon delivered as soon as it is finished.
Why is an icon a fitting Christmas gift?
Because Christmas celebrates the Incarnation: God becomes man and can therefore be depicted. That is precisely the theological reason icons exist.