Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1840s CE. Finely delineated in egg tempera and gold leaf on wood, a special icon with an intriguing composition presenting twelve miniature icons of the Virgin Mary arranged in a grid. Theotokos is a Greek term that is oftentimes used in the Eastern Orthodox church to refer to the Virgin Mary as the mother of Christ. This word actually means "God bearer" and is also used to describe icons that most often depict Mary with the Christ Child. The images presented on this icon include The Virgin Hedegetria, The Virgin Orans, The Virgin Eleousa, The Virgin with the Playing Child, The Virgin of the Sweet Kiss, Sorrowful Mother, among others. Size: 12.25" L x 10.125" W (31.1 cm x 25.7 cm)

St. Luke painted the first portraits of the Mother of God during her lifetime according to church teachings. Russian icons like this example were modeled on Byzantine originals and according to Jeanne Marie Warzeski, scholar and curator of the North Carolina Museum of History's "Windows into Heaven" exhibition, the Russian titles were traditionally derived from the "names of monasteries, towns where they appeared, countries they came from, and prophesies and visions from which they originated." ("Windows into Heaven: Russian Icons from the Lilly and Francis Robicsek Collection of Religious Art", p. 14) Warzeski also wrote, "In the early Byzantine Empire, the home became the primary base for the development of icon veneration. Throughout the ensuing centuries, icons continued to receive honor in homes and churches. To this day, many Orthodox Christians create for prayer and meditation in their home a krasny ugol, or “beautiful corner,” where family icons are placed. Guests entering a house customarily honor the icons in the corner by crossing themselves before the objects. An oil lamp is set near the icons and is lit daily, according to Orthodox tradition." (Warzeski, p. 19)

Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection

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#122483

Back slats present. Normal surface wear. Areas of craquelure. Nicks to the peripheries. Some areas of touched up paint.