90. Imperial Icon on wood, "The Mother of God with the Infant Empress", Serbian school, first half of the 15th century, extremely rare, collectible piece

On a golden background, the Mother of God is depicted sitting on a backless bench. She holds the Christ Child on her left arm, and with her right hand points to Him (the Hodegetria type). According to Byzantine painting tradition, she is dressed in a blue gown, floor-length, the folds of which are rendered in angular lines of darker shades. The collar and cuffs of the dress are embroidered with gold thread and pearls. The red-cherry maphorion, which covers her head, falls on her shoulders and is fastened to her chest with a brooch (an influence of Italian painting in that era). The ends of this fall draped over her knees. The maphorion is hemmed on the edges with a golden ribbon lined with pearls. The Christ Child wears a ocher-white chiton and a ocher-red himation. With his left hand he holds a scroll, and with his right, he blesses. Both have halos around their heads, currently covered by silver nimbus (added at a later date). Their faces are partially repainted, which alters the aspect of the original painting. Above, in the corners, in two circular medallions are depicted the busts of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The wide frame that was applied to the icon is missing. Taken as a whole, the painting of the icon reflects the period of great flourishing of Serbian art of Byzantine tradition, before the conquest of Serbia by the Turks, at the end of the fourteenth century.

Dimensions

width 64 cm, height 86 cm

Description

tempera and gold foil on wood

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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