Russian icon of the Our Lady of Smolensk - 19th centurytempera on panel. Divided into two ...

Russian icon of the Our Lady of Smolensk - 19th century

tempera on panel.
Divided into two separate scenes: the upper part depicts Our Lady of Smolensk, an image of Mary named after the city of Smolensk. The Virgin is presented frontally, her head slightly bent towards the Child whom she supports with her left arm, while her right hand is outstretched to point at him. Christ is seated in her arms, also depicted frontally. The right hand is raised in the sign of blessing, while the left clasps the 'volumen', the badge of emperors and illustrious personages. This representation of the Mother of God is called Odigitria, or she who points the way.
The two figures are depicted with a simplification of features that makes their sacred character eloquent and conveys a strong sense of serenity to the entire work. At the top left are the initials MP OY, a compendium of the Greek words MHTHR OEOY (Mother of God) and the Greek abbreviation of the name of Christ IC XC (Iesous Christos). Alongside them is the figure of a saint turned towards them as a sign of devotion.
In the lower part, on the other hand, the Doctors of the Church Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom, the ecumenical Doctors of the Eastern Church, who laid the dogmatic foundations of Orthodoxy in the 4th century, are depicted in a frontal position. Near their heads are the inscriptions identifying them.
The painting lacks depth of space and everything takes place on a single plane, divided by a thin black frame and a background of two distinct colours.
Height x width x depth: 30 x 24 x 2.5 cm.
Item condition grading: *** fair (diffuse colour fading and some lacking)