Name icon
Hand-painted icons of patron saints
In the Eastern tradition every Christian receives at baptism the icon of the saint whose name they bear: a companion for life. Concetta Basile paints the icon of any saint to commission, respecting their attributes and iconography.
The name icon
The patron saint icon, also called the name icon, accompanies a person from birth: it is given at baptism, first communion, confirmation or on their name day. It often hangs by the bed or in the family prayer corner, and one day it will pass to the children.
For less frequently depicted saints, Concetta Basile studies hagiographic sources and ancient models to build a faithful image: garments, attributes, colours and gestures identify the saint as much as their name written on the panel.
Example: Saint George and the dragon
Saint George, the Great Martyr, is shown on a white horse spearing the dragon: the victory of faith over evil. In the atelier's icon the scene is enriched by the tower of the liberated city, with its inhabitants looking out of the windows.
Saint George and the dragon
Square panel with recessed field, gold ground.
Other saints you can commission
Saint Michael the Archangel
Commander of the heavenly hosts, protector in the struggle against evil.
Saint Nicholas of Myra
The wonderworking bishop, patron of Bari, of children and seafarers.
Saint Francis and Saint Clare
Saints of the Italian tradition, rendered in the language of the icon.
Local saints
Patrons of towns and villages, including Sicilian saints, based on study of the sources.
Frequently asked questions
Can I commission an icon of a little-known saint?
Yes. For each saint, hagiography and ancient models are researched; where none exist, the image is built according to the canons, as for newly conceived icons.
What is a «measure icon»?
An old Russian custom: at a child's birth, their patron saint was painted on a panel as tall as the newborn. It can be revived today as a baptism gift.