Figures with exaggerated gestures, betraying inner emotions, existed as early as the time of the Palaeologists. Standing on the destroyed gates of the underworld, Christ bows towards Adam, whom he raises from the grave. With her hands hidden, Eve prays for redemption for herself and those standing behind her. On the other side John the Baptist leads the Old Testament kings and forefathers. The icon was originally painted by Michael Damascene.
Size: 40 x 27 cm. ●
The Christ-child lies in a manger in a cave with the ox and ass behind. Mary lies on a red carpet among the rocks and plants. Three Kings and shepherds are depicted as is the washing of the Christ-child. Joseph is being addressed by a shepherd. Saint Eudoxia, John Lestwitschnik and St Juliana are depicted above. The middle figure is better known as John Climacus.The icon is from the Novgorod school.
Size: 27 x 39 cm ●
This icon is originally early Byzantine and probably came into being for liturgical reasons. The Mother of God sits on a throne with Christ on her lap, one hand on his shoulder and the other at his feet. Christ is depicted with his right hand in blessing and in his left hand he holds a scroll. Above are two angels in a medallion.
Size: 27 x 46 cm. ●
This icon is richly decorated with gold leaf, and the border is also beautifully executed with gold assist. The clothes of the Mother of God differ from those most commonly depicted. The Christ-child already has a somewhat older facial expression. The nimbuses of mother and child are richly decorated. The icon is kept in St Catharine’s Monastery on Sinai.
Size: 24 x 29 cm. ●
Christ the Redeemer and Giver of Life, originally painted by Metropolitan John Zographos. This half-portrait icon of Christ, with the right hand held up in blessing and a splendid Bible in the left hand, corresponds with the Pantokrator iconography. The wording on the border of the icon reads: ‘The icon of our Lord Jesus Christ was painted in the year 1393-1394’.
Size: 31 x 44 cm.
A triptych of the Deesis Group of Procopius Chirin and Nicephorus Savin. The left panel depicts from right to left the Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel and the Apostle Peter. The middle panel depicts the Lord Sabaoth with the child Emannuel, also known as the Lord of Hosts. The right panel depicts from left to right John the Baptist, the Angel Gabriel and Saint Paul.
Size of each panel: 26 x 28 cm (10.2 x 11.0 inches) ●
This icon, as elegant and precise as the work of a silversmith, clearly shows the influence of western culture at that time. In this depiction, the powerful horse and the external appearance of the black dragon is derived from a work by Paolo Veneziano on the same theme, but the aristocratic severity of the Byzantine example is still evident.
Size: 27 x 34 cm (10.6 x 13.4 inches)
This icon is supposed to have been painted by Saint Luke. It was probably created in the early 11th century. The Emperor Alexius I Commenus presented it as a gift in 1082 to the Kykkos monastery on Cyprus. The Christ Child sits on his mother’s right arm, his legs dangling. She holds her Son’s left arm with her left hand. The Christ Child holds an opened scroll in his left hand.
Size: 32 x 22 cm (12.6 x 8.6 inches) ●
This Eleousa – Our Lady of Tenderness – is a superb example of the Cretan school which combines Italian and Byzantine elements. The face is harmonious by Byzantine standards, with a finely proportioned nose, a narrow mouth and clear eyes with dazzling white. However, the modelling of the face and hands is undisputedly Italian.
Size: 33 x 27 cm (12.9 x 10.6 inches) ●
In this Eleousa icon, the relationship between mother and child is expressed in feelings of mutual intimacy. The child caresses his cheek against the cheek of his mother, gently holding her chin. The Christ Child is sitting on his mother’s right hand. In spite of her little son’s caresses, the Virgin’s expression, filled with foreboding for her son and the agony that awaits him, ranges from melancholic to deeply sorrowful.
Size 24 x 30 cm (9.4 x 11.8 inches) ●