LOT 0319

Large Veneto-Cretan Icon of Virgin and Child

17TH CENTURY A.D. OR LATER

23 5/8 x 16 3/4 in. (4.3 kg, 60 x 42.5 cm).

A large icon depicting the Virgin holding the Christ on her lap on a gilt background, both nimbate, the haloes with punched foliate decoration; the Virgin wearing a carmine red maphorion embellished with golden embroidery and fringes, elaborate cuffs and neckline to the himation; the Christ seated on the lap, holding his right arm out and making the blessing sign with his hand, left hand holding an open scroll inscribed in Greek πνευμα κυριου επ εμε ου ενεκεν εχρισεν με ευαγγελιζεσθαι πτωχοις απεσταλκεν με for 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor' (Luke 4:18-21), the green chiton and orange himation embellished with red folds; Greek inscription 'ΜΡ ΘΥ' for 'Mother of God' flanking the Virgin's halo, 'IC XC' for 'Jesus Christ' to the right of the Child and inside his nimbus 'O Ѿ N' for 'The Only One who always exists'; some restoration.

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

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by searcher certificate no.11572-198599.

See Weizmann, K. et al., The Icon, New York, 1982; Psilakis, N., Byzantine Churches and Monasteries of Crete, Heraklion, 1998; Popescu, G.A., Cristiani d'Oriente, spiritualità, arte e potere nell'Europa Post-Bizantina, Milano, 1999; Evans, H.C., The Arts of Byzantium, New York, 2001; Geelmuyden Bulgurlu, V., Ulf, A., Lindgren, N., Bodin, H., Balicka-Witakowska, E., Five essays on icons, Stockholm & Istanbul, 2005; the icon with the Virgin in the attitude of Mother of the Consolation, or in that of Hodegetria, shows similarity with other two icons of the same Cretan Guild, published by Popescu (1999, cat. nn. 144-145); Weizmann (1982, pp.310-315, 318) published a Veneto-Cretan Ritzos icon with stylistic similarities.

In the Orthodox church, the spaces between the columns close to the central doors of the Iconostasis (Holy Doors) are occupied by two proskynesis icons, representing Christ giving his blessings to the right and to the left the Virgin Mary, with or without the infant, or in interceding position known as Virgin Chalkoprateia type.