Roman Style Seated Putti

An icon of Hodegetria with the Virgin wearing a red maphorion embroidered with gold, a dark veil and a dark chiton with double gold embroidery on the cuffs; holding the Child on her left arm and gesturing towards him with the right hand; the Child wearing a yellow brown, gold-woven chiton, holding a scroll in his left hand, while the right one is making the gesture of blessing; the angels Michael and Gabriel to the left and right of the Virgin; on each side of the head of the Virgin inscriptions 'ΜΡ' and 'ΘΥ' (Μήτηρ (τοῦ) Θεοῦ = Mother of God), inscription in Greek letters 'IC XC' (IHCOYC XPICTOC = Jesus Christ) above the child, three letters inside the nimbus of Christ representing the continuous divine self-existence of Christ as God ('O ѾN' = The Only One who always exists); the names of the angles inscribed next to each figure (Aghios Michail and Aghios Gavriil). 869 grams, 29.8 x 24 cm



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

The painting is a copy of the famous replica of the Hodegetria of Constantinople, a Byzantine icon of 14th century, repainted by the icon painter Dionisi in 1482, and today preserved in State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. The original icon was destroyed by the Turks at the capture of Constantinople in 1453. The replica was venerated as an 'original' real Hodegetria in the Ascension Convent in Kremlin, Moscow. The icon led the liturgical processions on June 23, August 26, May 21 and October 22 in which the Patriarchs and the Russian Tsars took part.

A shell cameo portraying the draped and cuirassed bust of a Roman soldier facing left, wearing a helmet; attached to an agate backed gilt copper-alloy setting. 4.97 grams, 24 mm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

A wooden triptych with recessed central panel and two folding doors; the central panel with crucifixion scene with robed Mary and John the Evangelist, another apostle and Mary Magdalen, two crucified thieves to the rear and the angels depicted collecting the blood of God in cups; underneath the Crucifixion scene Virgin Mary and the Child escorted by armed Saint Gabriel and Saint Michael, prophets to the sides; the left door with nude Adam and Eve reaching up to the Resurrection of Christ, beneath them three prophets; the right door with two saints (upper panel) and three prophets; left and right bottom panels with Saint George (Bet Giorgis) and military Saint Victor on horseback; Ethiopian Ge'ez script legends. 760 grams, 35.5 x 21.5 cm



Acquired on the London art market, 2003. UK private collection.

The icon shows the Western influence on Ethiopian art. The first element is the orb which the Child holds in his left hand and the second element is the pose of his right hand. The orb appeared in Ethiopian paintings around 1500 A.D. Moreover, his hand shows two fingers outstretched, the index and middle finger, and the two last fingers folded.