Russische Iconen
This is the most “icon-painterly” work of Ushakov, but not without certain features of eclecticism (figure and background). It shows a certain loss of creative imagination characteristic of court artists while the technique of execution remains highly refined. Whom the small figure on the left represents is not known.
The icon is from the Tolmachevskaya-Sosnovskaya collection.
Size 28x 35 cm
This icon usually goes by the name “Madonna della Consolatione”. Mother of god of consolation and is probably originating from the Byzantine Hodegetria Type (since the child is seated on his mothers right arm). It could also originate from the Kretenian-Venetian school.
This type is widespread in East and West.
Size 28x 35 cm
This icon belongs to one of the earliest depictions of Mary, the explanation is in Isaiah 7, verse 7-14. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Next to Mary’s halo are two cherubim. The primordial icon originated in Constantinopel, after the Christianization, this became the most important one in Novgorod.
Size: 28 x 35 cm ●
The Mother of God Panhagia in this icon is one of the earliest pictures of Mary. The icon shows Mary in Orans pose (praying, with raised hands). In front of Mary, Jesus also has his hands outstretched. This ancient icon originates from Constantinople, from the then district of Blachernitissa. To the left and right at the top of the icon are the angels Michael and Gabriel respectively.
Size: 24 x 41cm
Saint Nicholas the miracle-worker from the Palech school. Saint Nicholas is depicted in all his finery. With his right hand he makes a gesture of blessing, and in his left hand he holds the Book of the Gospels. He is the patron saint of seamen, but also of the family and children.
Grootte 26 x 30 cm ●
The hodegetria (“She who guides the way”) is a common picturing of the virgin in the Byzantine and Russian art. According to the legend, the first Maria Hodegetria was painted by the evangelist Lucas. During the first years of the 11th century, icons with this theme appear in Russia.
Size: 28 x 35 cm. ●
Christ is seating on the left arm of his mother, who points to him with her right hand. Christ makes a blessing gesture with his right hand and keeps a script with a red ribbon in his left. The aureola is richly decorated, which is a typical Novgorodschool characteristic.
Size: 28 x 35 cm. ●
The iconography of this icon is a variant of the Mother of God of Kykkotissa and is based on a miracle. In the 8th century, at the time of the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo III, a soldier attacked the icon with a sword, causing blood to flow from it. Full of remorse the solder fled to Mount Athos but the icon followed him across the water. Finding the icon on the beach, the soldier brought it to the main church of the Athos monasteries and the flow of blood was stemmed.
In thanks the monks raised their voices to sing the ‘Axion Esti’.
Size: 29 x 37 cm.
Original design with two icon images:
The Holy Mandylion
Russia 17th century
Mother of God of Yaroslavl
Russia 17th century
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Along the top edge is written in Church Slavonic ‘The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ’.
The icon depicts various scenes relating to the birth that follow the late medieval Russian iconography. In the centre is the adoration of the magi from the East, holding in their hands their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The ox and the ass refer to Isaiah 1 verse 3.
In the top right hand corner are two angels, below them two shepherds playing the flute. In the bottom right hand corner the child is being washed, and in the bottom left corner is Joseph, listening to an old shepherd standing before him.
Size 28 x 35 cm.●