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MOTHER OF GOD "JOY TO ALL WHO GRIEVE" WITH GUARDIAN ANGEL

Creator(s): Unknown

Currently in storage


About this object

The Mother of God "Joy to All Who Grieve" stands full length in the upper central zone of the icon, a scepter in her right hand and an unfurled scroll draped over her left arm. An almond-shaped mandorla with gold rays frames her figure and immediately above her Christ appears with both arms raised in blessing, surrounded by clouds. Huddled in two tiers to either side of the Mother of God are four small groups of naked, ailing, grieving, and afflicted humans seeking Her intercession. An angel hovers behind each group bringing succour. In the space beneath the Mother of God is the Guardian Angel, also presented full length and facing the viewer directly. It stands on a small circle of ? against a ???. In the rectangular spaces to either side of the central panels are the four female saints Sophia, Nadezhda, Liubov' and Vera. The whole composition is loosely joined together by a lush calligraphic framework of acanthus leaves on a latticework ground that twine around the six registers. A bright red border separates the kovcheg from the polia and the acanthus motif is repeated along the brown filenka. A ground of bright orange and green has been painted over a gold-leaf layer that covers the entire front of the board. The cartouche in the center of the lower polia originally contained the inscription (now removed) "This holy miracleworking image was painted in the year from the creation of God's Word ???? on July 20."

Object name:
MOTHER OF GOD "JOY TO ALL WHO GRIEVE" WITH GUARDIAN ANGEL
Made from:
Tempera on wood
Made in:
Russia
Date made:
Late 18th c. (?)
Size:
31.8 x 27.2 x 3.5 cm (12 1/2 x 10 11/16 x 1 3/8 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
54.79
Class:
ICON
Signature marks:
INSCRIPTION; LABEL [recto]: VSEM [SKORBIASHCHIM] RADOST'" (PR above Her head), "ANGLA KHRANIT[EL]", "S. MUCHK VERA", "NAPISASIA STYI CHTYI SEI OBRAZ V LETO OT SOTVORENIIA BGA SLOVA ????? MES . . . IIULIA 20"; [verso]: [?] (on label)
Credit line:
Gift of Madame Augusto Rosso, 1968