Tag: 18th century

A Western theme, which was adopted in the 17th century by the Eastern Orthodox Church. It depicts the words of the old Simon who spoke to the Mother of God when she presented her son in the temple: ‘Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also’ (Luke 2:35). Seven white swords pierce her, representing the seven sorrows of Mary: the flight into Egypt, the prophecy in the temple, the twelve-year old Christ in the temple, the Crucifixion, the descent from the Cross, the burial, as well as the piercing of her soul.

Size: 27 x 35 cm. ●

The Grusinskaya in mirror image is virtually identical to the Jerusalimskaya Mother of God. A Byzantine copy of the latter probably found its way to Georgia, where it was called the Georgian or Iberian Mother of God. The oldest Grusinskaya dates from around 1360, shortly after which it came to Moscow where the replicas were as much loved as in Georgia.

Size: 21 x 26 cm.●

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.

Size: 25 x 30 cm.●

This icon depicts an exceptionally unusual theme of the Mother of God, usually called ‘Gora Nerukosecnaja’, translated as ‘stone not hewn by man’. The name originates from the text of the prophet Daniel (Dan. 2 verse 31-35) in which he interprets a dream of king Nebuchadnezzar. Church fathers used the image for the incarnation of Christ and the virgin motherhood of Mary. The rock here is shown in front of the Mother of God’s breast. Above the rock spans a rainbow as a symbol of God’s covenant after the Flood with Noah (Gen. 9 verse 8-17).

Size: 34 x 25 cm●

A rare depiction of the Mother of Christ with the Christ Child. An unusual feature is that Christ sits on the Mother of God’s left arm, and that she points to Christ as in the iconography of the Mother of God Hodegetria. She is crowned and wearing a pink veil with a blue lining, which the Christ Child touches. Virtually nothing is known about the origin and meaning of this icon.

Size: 26 x 35 cm●

This icon is probably derived from the Palech school. During the Tsarist regime, this picture was a very popular subject. The Orthodox icon type is easily recognized by the Virgin’s gesture, holding two fingers against her cheek. Christ is holding an opened parchment roll in his hand with the text: “Pass judgement in the last court with mercy and compassion.”

Size 23 x 30 cm (9.0 x 11.8 inches) ●

This icon is probably derived from the Palech school. During the Tsarist regime, this picture was a very popular subject. The Orthodox icon type is easily recognized by the Virgin’s gesture, holding two fingers against her cheek. Christ is holding an opened parchment roll in his hand with the text: “Pass judgement in the last court with mercy and compassion.”

Size 23 x 30 cm (9.0 x 11.8 inches) ●

This icon differs from the traditional Virgin icons in the colours it uses. The headdress is also different. The icon’s origin is unknown

Size 26 x 32 cm (10.2 x 12.6 inches) ●

To the left in the foreground are the patriarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostomos. To the right in the foreground are the holy healers Cosmos and Damianus. To the left and right at the top are the holy warriors Gregory and Demitrius, and in the centre at the top is the Mandylion.

Size 32 x 25 cm (12.6 x 9.8 inches) ●