Icon - Mother of God, Softener of Hardened Hearts - Wood

Wonderful Russian Icon of the Mother of God in its wooden case with glass lid and closure. Russia, end of the 18th century (icon) – 19th century (case) Technique: Egg tempera on a wooden panel, with meccato ground (silver leaf covered by a yellow varnish) and gold detailing. Preserved in an antique wooden display case with two doors and convex glass. Representation: A beautiful devotional icon, painted with great finesse despite its small size. It shows the Mother of God bust-length with the Child in her arms. Both wear a crown adorned with red stones and pearls and have halos. The Madonna's cloak is brown-purple, with a long pearl necklace on the chest. In the center of the chest there is a round medallion with the Dove of the Holy Spirit, a symbolic detail not common. Further down the Madonna holds a green oval medallion with the Orthodox cross. The Child, dressed in red, blesses and holds a white scroll. On the left you can see a small standing saint, with a red mantle and a green dress, next to a Cyrillic inscription. At the bottom there is a pink parapet decorated with festoons. The meccato ground The ground is not painted: it is meccato, i.e., obtained with silver leaf covered by a yellowish transparent varnish that makes it shine like gold. It is a refined technique of great effect, giving the icon a warm and luminous light. Together with the deep blue border, it makes the colors and figures stand out. The case (kiot): Eighteenth-century wooden case in dark wood, with a wavy silhouette, the interior gilded and richly relief-worked. It opens like a book thanks to metal hinges and has a convex glass protecting the icon. On the back it is closed by a cardboard panel. Conditions Small cracks and crazing due to time, some slight color loss and signs of use. The meccato ground shows normal oxidation and some small abrasions. The painting remains legible and the colors are still vivid. The gilding of the case shows normal wear and some small cracks in the wood. Measurements with Case: 19 x 20 x 6 cm Measurements icon alone: 18 x 16 x 3 cm The Icon presents a high artistic quality and great representative beauty in its entire composition. A suitable packing and express insured shipping are guaranteed.

Estimate:$674.23

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