Greek Virgin and Child Hodegetria Icon

17TH CENTURY A.D.

10 7/8 x 8 1/2 in. (520 grams, 27.5 x 21.5 cm).

A tempera on wood icon depicting the Mother of God supporting the Child with her left forearm, his right hand raised and making the sign of blessing, left hand holding a scroll; the Virgin wearing a red maphorion with a light green veil and a blue chiton; both figures nimbate, the haloes tooled with foliate designs, gilt background with a red and white arch above.

Provenance

Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection.

Literature

See similar icon in the Princeton Art Museum, inventory number y1945-196, icon by an imitator of Emmanuel Lampardos, published in Princeton University Art Museum, Recent Accessions, record of the Museum of Historic Art, vol.4. no.2 (Autumn, 1945), pp.11-12.

Footnotes

The layout of the composition clearly indicates the icon's close link with Hodegetria type, the most typical iconography of the Mother of God in Byzantium since the 10th century. However, the type also recalls the iconography of the Virgin Psychosostria, i.e. 'Health of Souls'.

CONDITION

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LOT 0321