8 - Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (Vseh Skorbyashchih Radost) - Early 20th century

Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (Vseh Skorbyashchih Radost) - Early 20th century Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 70.5 x 43.5 cm One of the most beloved and poignant Marian devotions in the Orthodox tradition. The work is structured according to a solemn, symmetrical composition, dominated at its center by the full-length figure of the Mother of God; she stands in a hieratic pose within a large mandorla of divine light (an aurora), resting upon soft, circular clouds. Crowned as the Queen of Heaven and draped in a dark-hued maphorion with delicate gold trim, Mary holds the blessing Divine Infant on her left arm, while her merciful gaze turns toward suffering humanity. On either side of the Virgin, crowds of the afflicted—the sick, the crippled, and the destitute—are gathered symmetrically; they are attended and comforted by guardian angels with outstretched wings, who act as intermediaries, presenting their supplications to the Mother of God. Each group is accompanied by explanatory liturgical inscriptions describing their specific afflictions. In the upper section of the panel, positioned in the corners and along the edges, are interceding saints and Church Fathers in prayer, while at the very top, within a celestial lunette amidst the clouds, the figure of God the Father (Sabaoth) appears, bestowing a blessing. At the base of the composition, a rectangular golden cartouche contains a long, calligraphic prayer written in Old Church Slavonic. The entire painted surface displays extraordinary calligraphic skill, evident in the meticulous anatomical rendering of the suffering bodies, the dramatic quality of the highlighted drapery, and the remarkable refinement of the faces—all enhanced by a rich color palette that blends warm brown and ochre tones with brilliant accents of green and blue, imbuing the entire work with an intense sense of the sacred and a dimension of profound hope. His Excellency the Most Reverend Francisco-Javier Lozano Sebastián, Titular Archbishop of Penafiel and Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus. Item condition rating: **** good. The lot is in good condition, with normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time. There are areas of paint loss, a transverse crack, and a hole at the top.