Greek icon of the 18th century

Greek icon from the 18th century.
"Déesis and Saint George and Saint Nicholas of Bari".
Painting on wood.
Lacking polychromy.
Measurements: 25.5 x 20.5 x 2 cm.
The Russian icon is divided into two parts: on the one hand, the upper part, with the representation of the deësis (Christ in Majesty or Christ the Enthroned Panthocrator, flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist) and, on the other hand, the lower part with Saint George and Saint Nicholas of Bari.
As in the rest of Byzantine art, the Deësis is highly symbolic and expressive. In terms of workmanship and aesthetics, this set of three panels can be dated to around the 16th-17th centuries, the period when icon art flourished in Russia, when the most famous painters of ancient Russia, Theophanes the Greek, Andrei Rubliov and Dionysius, created their masterpieces. The present lot is therefore in the orthodox tradition. They are dominated by the use of red (symbolising love but also the blood and suffering of Christ) and gold (the colour of God and his light).
St George slaying the dragon is, together with the double-headed eagle, the symbol of the Russian state, before Peter the Great. The figure was not officially identified as St George until 1730, when he was described as such in an imperial decree. The early form of this symbol, a dragon slayer on horseback, was always associated with the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, later becoming the official coat of arms of the city of Moscow. St George later became the patron saint of Moscow and, by extension, of Russia.
Saint Nicholas of Bari is one of the best-known saints of Christianity. Although little is known about his life, it is said that he was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor and that he was persecuted and captured by the Romans in the 4th century, but was later freed by Emperor Constantine I. In the 11th century, his relics were buried in the church of St. Nicholas of Bari. In the 11th century his relics were taken to Bari (a place of pilgrimage), Italy. He has become the patron saint of Bulgaria, Greece and Russia,