117. Veneto-Cretan icon on wood, "Mother of God with the Child (Glikophilusa)", mid 16th century, rare, collectible piece

Through the circulation of Veneto-Cretan icons that attached vital importance to the representation of the Virgin Mother and the illustration of events linked to her capacity of Theotokos (Bearer of God), the Marian cult expands in the epoch. The Virgin Mother with the Infant – the Glikofilousa type – is, in this sense, eloquent. Holding the Infant with both hands, the Virgin Mary touches her cheek lovingly to the Infant's in a maternal embrace. Her sad, thoughtful gaze, which imprints a feeling of profound and restrained sorrow on her face, and the solemn, mature face of the Infant Jesus – a child, foretell His Passions. The Virgin's facial features are typical of Byzantine icons, adopted by the Cretan painting in the 15th – 16th centuries: the long oval of the face, the long and thin nose, the small and red mouth, large eyes shaped like "fish scales", elongated towards temples. According to the same tradition, the facial modeling is executed with ochre tonal nuances, starting from the dark parts, rendered in dark brown, the light accents of the face being executed with parallel white strokes. The garments of the Virgin and the Infant are generally portrayed according to the standards of post-Byzantine painting. The icon's background and applied frame are golden, and the halos are made with a wheel featuring stylized geometric and vegetal motifs (A.D.).

Dimensions

width 29 cm, height 36 cm

Description

tempera and gold foil on wood

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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