An antique 18th-century Russian Orthodox icon representing Saint Nicholas of Myra, one of the most celebrated saints of the Orhodox church, framed with scenes from his life. The icon of St. Nicholas belongs to the hagiographic type. Mixed media painting: egg tempera, gesso, and levkas on a wood board. Gilt background. an This type of icon, with the image of a saint in the center scenes from his life in the margins in separate compositions, is referred to as a hagiographic icon, or zhitiynaya ikona in Russian. Antique Russian Religious Items and Collectibles.