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Bogoliubskaya Mother of God, The

Painting
Slightly curved wooden panel with painting on the topside covered in silver riza in repoussé and engraved. On the backside of the panel is a piece of computer paper with icon description in purple text taped to it. The exterior border of the riza has six figures on each side with a Cyrillic caption on the bottom and floral motifs throughout. The main image shows Mary on the left holding a scroll with Cyrillic script, raised halo with three leaf motifs, and floor length robes with floral motifs throughout. In the top right is an image of Jesus in the clouds and below him are nine figures with painted faces and raised metal halos.

2005.02.028

Panel

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

1875 - 1900

19th Century

Moscow, Russia

Makers Mark

Bottom of the main image, just above the caption and below the clouds at Mary's feet, in Mary's halo, in every halo of the saints pictured on the right

СГ, 84 with crowned head symbol

Cyrillic

SG

Unknown artist but other paintings in Finland

Inscription

Back of icon

Typed summary of piece (English) and unintelligible cursive in pencil

Icon

Symbol, Religious

Religious Objects

Ceremonial Objects

Category 08: Communication Objects

14 in

12-1/4 in

1-1/2 in

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Cultural/Historical Context

The Bogolyubov Mother of God refers to the story of the dream of Grand Prince Andrei Georgievich Bogolyubsky after his victory in the battle of Kiev in 1157 (see 2005.02.068) He saw the Mother of God standing full-length and holding a scroll, looking at Jesus in the clouds. She told him to have her image placed in a church in the city of Vladimir, and accordingly a church was constructed and the icon painted. The latter-day celebration of the icon was instituted in 1771, when it was credited with saving Kiev from a disastrous plague. The “Moscow” version of this type adds a group of saints to the original scene, including nine figures who kneel before her. The scroll is inscribed with the words: “Ruler most gracious, Lord Jesus Christ, my son and my God, hear the prayer of your Mother, for she prays for the world.” The raised border has a floral pattern and includes six figures of family saints, or saints with particular importance to the patron. The figures vary in scale, with the Virgin appearing much larger, in a monumental vision. Christ is shown much smaller, as another vision farther away in the sky. These effects lend an otherworldly atmosphere to the scene, underscoring the contemplative purpose of the icon.

Bogoliubskaya Mother of God, The picture number 1