ICON “KURSK-KORENNAYA MOTHER OF GOD OF THE SIGN” RUSSIA, VOLOGDA, 1802

An outstanding monument of Russian Northern icon painting at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, uniting the traditions of the Vologda school with a high level of silver craftsmanship. The icon represents the Most Holy Mother of God of the Orans type – “The Sign”, with the Christ Child depicted in a medallion upon Her breast. The central image is framed within a painted border and surrounded by figures of the Lord Sabaoth and Old Testament prophets holding unfolded scrolls foretelling the Incarnation. Of particular artistic significance is the repoussé silver oklad executed by the silversmith Andrian Ioakimov Klishin in 1802. The composition of the oklad is constructed in strict symmetry characteristic of early Classicism, while preserving the ornamental richness of the Baroque tradition. The vegetal ornament, garlands, cartouches and the radiant halo of the Mother of God are rendered in deep repoussé with refined detailing. Gilded elements emphasize the sacred center of the composition. The icon combines spiritual expressiveness in painting with the virtuosity of Northern Russian silver artistry, demonstrating the high artistic culture of Vologda in the early 19th century. Hallmarks: Maker’s mark “АК” in Cyrillic within a square cartouche – Andrian Ioakimov Klishin; Assay mark of the city of Vologda with the initials “ГШ” – assay master Grigory Shishkin, beneath the date “1802”; Corresponding to Postnikova-Loseva hallmark catalogue No. 310 and No. 324. Dimensions: Height – 41.5 cm; Width – 35 cm. Condition: Good. Minor traces of age on the painted surface and silver oklad. The composition is fully preserved without loss of principal elements. Provenance: Private collection.

Estimate:$1,563.61

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