28 - RUSSIAN SCHOOL, LATE 18TH CENTURY

RUSSIAN SCHOOL, LATE 18TH CENTURY POKROV, OR THE PROTECTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD Tempera on panel with gold ground 56.5 x 47 cm. A fine Russian icon from the late 18th century depicting the Pokrov, or the Protection of the Mother of God, one of the most complex and significant subjects in the Orthodox iconographic tradition. The composition depicts the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary, shown in the act of spreading her mantle as a sign of protection and intercession over the faithful. The scene, organized across multiple levels, brings together a multitude of saints, archangels, and sacred figures within a particularly rich narrative framework. Among the figures, Saint Andrew—known as “the Fool for Christ”—stands out, pointing to the apparition of the Mother of God. The narrative also includes episodes from the life of Saint Romanus the Melodist, depicted both intoning his hymns in the presence of rulers and lying on his bed during a vision of the Virgin, who hands him a scroll to swallow, miraculously bestowing upon him the gift of song. The figure of the Mother of God dominates the central panel, surrounded by archangels and saints in a posture of supplication. The numerous figures, arranged within an elaborate architectural setting, lend the depiction a distinctly theatrical character, further enhanced by the luminosity of the gold background. Of particular interest are the complexity of the iconographic composition, the elegance of the architecture, and the richness of the narrative details, which attest to the continued vitality of the refined Russian painting tradition throughout the 18th century.