Our Lady of Life-Giving Font 1850

This icon, Our Lady of the Life-Giving Font, created by Orthodox Icons, is made with traditional materials: wood panel, gesso, pigment, and gold leaf. The process of creating such an icon is highly specialized and codified. The wood panel is carefully prepared, covered with gesso, then painted in layers using egg tempera - pigments mixed with egg yolk. The artist would build up the image slowly, according to established conventions, and use the gold leaf to embellish the halos and other sacred elements, creating a sense of divine light and otherworldliness. This is far more than just painting. It’s a skilled tradition passed down through generations. The application of gold leaf, in particular, requires immense patience and precision. The materials and the making are deeply connected to the spiritual significance of the image. This slow, careful, reverent approach to production reflects the Orthodox Christian belief that icons are "windows to heaven," not merely aesthetic objects.