depicted in traditional Bishop attire, Nicholas painted on glimmering gilt background, blesses the onlooker with his right hand while holding an open text, written in intricate old Cyrillic letters, in his left. The two figures on either side allude to a vision before his election as a Bishop, when Nicholas saw the Savior, holding the Gospels, on one side, and the Virgin, holding out the vestments he would wear as a Bishop, on the other one. Egg tempera, gold leaf and gesso on a wood panel with a kovcheg. Two insert splints on the back. 31.5 x 27.5 cm (12 1/4 x 10 3/4 in.).