LOT 1980

Russian Icon with Virgin of Kazan with the Blessing Child

19TH-20TH CENTURY A.D.

12 1/4 in. (968 grams, 31 cm high).

Painted on a wooden board with mounting slots and panels to the reverse, gessoed surface with painting of the Virgin of Kazan, head of Mary with gilded nimbus and russet-coloured veil, standing infant Jesus similarly nimbate with right hand raised in the pax gesture; gilt monograms to the upper corners and title to the lower left corner.

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

See Preobrazhensky, A., ‘The icon of the Virgin of Kazan: new data on the early history of its veneration and the most ancient copies (in Russian)’ in Чудотворный Казанский образ Богородицы в судьбах России и мировой цивилизации. Сборник докладов участников научно-просветительских чтений, (Miraculous Kazan image of the Mother of God in the fate of Russia and world civilization. Collection of reports of participants of scientific and educational readings, in Russian), Казань, 2018, pp.295-429.

The original icon, also known as the Theotokos of Kazan, is thought to have originated in Constantinople in the 13th century before it was taken to Russia. When the Turks took over Kazan in 1438, the icon was most probably hidden to keep it safe. Ivan the Terrible liberated Kazan in 1552, and the town was destroyed by fire in 1579, after which the icon was found and brought to the Church of Saint Nicholas. It was subsequently stolen in 1904 and never found again, though there are many copies in existence.