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Smolenskaya Mother of God, The

Painting
Wood panel covered in green imitation wood frame with gold border on the inside. A green velvet background with brown discoloration features a small painting of Mary and Jesus sitting on her lap facing forward covered by square silver riza.

2005.02.096

Panel

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

1875 - 1900

St. Petersburg, Russia

Makers Mark

Lower left hand corner of silver riza; under Mary's hand

E.H., 84, man on horseback

Cyrillic

E.N., silver standard 84, city hallmark of Moscow

8-3/4 in

8-1/4 in

3/4 in

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Cultural/Historical Context

In this variation of the “Hodegetria” type, the Mother of God looks outward as she bends her head slightly, and the seated child similarly looks toward the viewer. The baby Jesus is shown in a more mature form and holds one hand in a blessing gesture. The two individuals have identical haloes, varied only in size and wear blue and gold robes with Mary's containing a star on her right shoulder. Both figures fit within an oval medallion that has a rectangular riza frame. The icon’s diminutive size indicates that it was intended for private use.

Smolenskaya Mother of God, The picture number 1