The work is composed of egg tempera paint, gold leaf, and wood panel. The height of the work is 31.5 cm (12.4 in.) and the width of the work is 25 cm (9.8 in.). It features a thickness of 1.7 cm (.7 in.). In 1662, two years after Tzanes became the priest at
San Giorgio dei Greci in Venice he completed the masterpiece. It is considered one of the painter's mature works. The work is an emblem of the evolution of the
Cretan School and reflective of the mannerisms of the
Heptanese school. Artists of the Ionian Islands began to humanize their figures. They paid attention to the human anatomy. Their painting style reflected the physical human form.
Onuphrius is covered in finely painted grey and white hair. His long hair is knee-length. Long hair lines are clearly visible. His facial expression and pose are humble and unpretentious. He holds a wooden cane. The painter reflects the humanistic side of the heavenly saint. His ribs are clearly visible reflecting the true nature of Onuphriu’s lifestyle. His face arms and legs feature humanistic elderly wrinkles. The painter clearly demonstrates the figure's knees and elbows. Tzanes also adds a magnificent palm tree growing out of the mountain. A beautiful waterfall is also flowing from the mountain into a stream. It appears to our right in the lower portion of the painting. This is the place
Onuphrius ate and drank. To our left, the painter adds a magnificent landscape establishing a foreground, a middle ground, and a background. The painting is three-dimensional. A cave appears to our left with an opening. The artist clearly defines his monastic cell. It is in the middle ground behind a tree. Three mountains appear in the background. A dove is also present signifying the Holy Spirit. The icon is full of Greek inscriptions. The top features the term. Ὁ ἉΓΙΟC ΟΝΟΥΦΡΙΟΣ — HO HAGIOS ONOUPHRIOS [The] Holy Onuphrius.
Onuphrius is also featured holding a scroll with the Greek inscription: ΟΣΤΙΣ ΔΩΡΟ[Ν] ΦΕΡΕΙ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΕΜΗΝ ΑΝΑΜΝΗΣΙΝ ΚΑΜΕ ΕΥΡΗΣΕΙ ΠΡΟΣ Τ[ΟΝ] ΘΕΟΝ ΠΡΟΣ- ΤΑΤΗΝ OSTIS DORON PHEREI EIS TEN EMEN ANAMNESIN KAME EURISEI PROS TON THEON PROSTATEN (Who a gift brings in my memory, will find me a protector/patron before God). The artist also signed his work: ΧΕΙΡ ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛ ἹΕΡΕΩC ΤΖΑΝΕ ΤΟΥ ΕΚ ΡΗΘΗΜΝΗC CHEIR EMMANOUEL HIEREOSTZANE TOU EK RETHEMNES “[the] hand of Emmanuel Priest Tzane[s] the-one from Rethymnon” The date given is 1662. ==Gallery==