147. Veneto-Cretan icon on wood, "Mother of God with Infant (Eleusa)", early 16th century, rare collector's piece

On the gold background of the icon, the silhouette of the Virgin Mary stands out, portrayed to the mid-waist. She holds the Infant Jesus on her left arm, which she supports with both hands - in the Eleusa type. The traditional maforion of the Virgin Mary is in this case replaced with a reddish-purple cape covering her head and falling over her shoulders in soft folds. It is fastened at the chest with a golden brooch. The traditional bonnet is also replaced with a white, transparent veil. As for the Infant Jesus, the traditional chiton, characteristic of the Byzantine world, is replaced with a tunic, specific to the Renaissance art, painted in green and a red himation, the draping of which is also influenced by Western art. The features of the Virgin Mary's face vaguely remind of the typology of Byzantine painting, but the modeling of the face is done in the spirit of Italo-Venetian painting. The features of the face of the Infant Jesus still retain the typology characteristic of Byzantine painting, but the expression of his face is closer to that of an ordinary child, losing the mature seriousness of the Infant Jesus. Another Western influence is the fact that the Infant Jesus, when blessing, does not hold a rotulus, allusion to the New Law, but the Globe of Power, painted here in gold. From the old Byzantine tradition, preserved by the Cretan school, are the halos decorated by incision in the ground layer covered with gold foil with specific Byzantine motifs from the fifteenth century. (A.D.)

Dimensions

width 34 cm, height 43 cm

Description

tempera and gold foil on wood

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.