As tall as the child
The measured icon: an icon as tall as the newborn
When a child is born, their length is measured, and on a panel exactly as tall as the baby the saint whose name they will bear is painted. This is the «measured icon» (in Russian mernaya ikona), one of the most tender traditions linked to icons: an image with the child's stature on the day they came into the world.
The tradition
The custom is documented in Russia from the 16th century, especially in the family of the tsars: some measured icons of the princes are still kept in Moscow. From there it spread to families who wished to entrust their child, from the first day, to the protection of their saint. The icon accompanied the child throughout life and often, at death, to the grave.
What it looks like
- The panel has the newborn's height, usually between 45 and 55 centimetres, and a narrow width, about a quarter or a third of the height: this is why it is tall and slender.
- The subject is the name saint, standing, full length; Christ or the Mother of God may appear above, blessing.
- You can also choose the guardian angel, or the saint of the day of birth or baptism.
- On the back of the panel or in the booklet are recorded the child's name, date of birth and length, and the names of parents and godparents.
How to commission it
The exact length is only known at birth: so subject, inscriptions and preparation are agreed beforehand, and the final dimensions of the panel are fixed after the birth. Delivery times are agreed together during the conversation. The measured icon can be a gift from parents, godparents, grandparents or several people together. Like every icon by Concetta Basile, it is fully gilded with 23¾ karat gold, with inscriptions in Greek or Latin, and is commissioned with an offering proportionate to the time and materials of the work.
Frequently asked questions
Can a measured icon be made for an older child?
Tradition calls for the birth length, which is often recorded in the child's health records: a measured icon can therefore be painted years later, starting from that figure.
Which saint is painted if the name has no saint?
You can choose the saint of the day of birth or baptism, the guardian angel, or a saint dear to the family.