Icon Depicting the Virgin and Child, Painting on Panel with Repoussé Silver Layer, 19th Century

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Icon of the Virgin and Child, Painting on panel, repoussé silvered copper overlay, 19th century

This icon, originating from the … Read more Icon of the Virgin and Child, Painting on panel, repoussé silvered copper overlay, 19th century

This icon, originating from the Greek Orthodox regions of southern Italy, was created in the 19th century and features a painting on a wooden panel with a 925 silver overlay (riza). The work depicts the Virgin and Child. According to the tradition of the Eastern Christian Church, the first iconographer of the Virgin was the Evangelist Saint Luke, who is said to have depicted the Virgin in three main iconographic types, from which the three most widespread canonical typologies are derived:

- The Mother of God, known as "of Tenderness" (Theotokos Eleousa), holds the Child in a tender embrace;

- The Mother of God, known as "Praying" or "of the Sign" (Theotokos Panagia), holds her arm in a gesture of prayer;

-The Mother of God, known as "the One Who Shows the Way" (Theotokos Hodigitria), her hand pointing to the Child in her arms.
This latter type corresponds to the icon as an object.

Here, the Mother of God points to the Divine Son with her hand, as the only "Way of Salvation." This is a particularly solemn Marian representation. The Virgin, depicted half-length, is inclined towards the Child placed on her left. The Son of God, although represented as a child in the Mother's arms, already has the features of an adult, to signify his awareness of redemptive predestination, that is, of his future Passion, Death, and Resurrection for the salvation of humankind. Jesus gives his blessing with his right hand.

This icon features a decorative border that focuses primarily on the halos, background, and clothing, leaving only the faces, hands, and feet of the figures visible. The border of this icon is made of silver. It is a precious work of art, crafted in a style that was widely popular in the 19th century.
The elaborate decorative motifs of the border are accentuated by the gold on the halos of the Virgin and Child. See less