A VERY FINE RUSSIAN ICON OF ST. EUPHROSYNE PRINCESS OF POLATSK, CIRCA 1900. A finely painted half-length image of the 12th century saint depicted in the monastic great skema upon which rests a crown. More interesting is the ornate six-sided gold cross she holds, which became a national symbol of sorts for Belarus. In the 13th century, the cross was relocated to Smolensk; and eventually was returned to Polatsk in 1841. The cross was thoroughly photographed for the record in 1896. In 1928, the nationalized relic was taken to Minsk, then, in 1929, to Mahilyow, and was locked in a safe box of the Regional Communist Party Headquarters. The cross disappeared during the German occupation and has since never been recovered. The shoulder height inscription identifies the subject as The Holy Venerable Princess Euphrosyne of Polatsk. The fine detail and use of subtle gold highlighting and overall rendering is very similar to icons produced in the Sergi Lavra workshop of Ivan Mikhailovich Malishev. 10.5 inches x 8.75 inches (26.8 x 22.2 cm).