65 - Russian Icon depicting the Mother of God, "Comfort of the Afflicted" - Late 18th - early 19th century

Russian Icon depicting the Mother of God, "Comfort of the Afflicted" - Late 18th - early 19th century tempera on panel Height x width: 36 x 30.5 cm Icon on panel depicting the Mother of God “Comfort of the Afflicted” (Utoli Moja Pečali), one of the most celebrated Marian images in the Russian Orthodox tradition, venerated as a powerful intercessor in times of both spiritual and physical suffering.The Virgin is depicted in half-length, with her head gently bowed and her gaze directed toward the viewer, conveying an attitude of profound compassion and empathy. Her right hand rests upon her breast in a gesture of humble prayer and intercession, while her left hand holds an unfurled scroll bearing an inscription in Slavonic characters containing an invocation addressed to the faithful.The large halo and the background are executed in silver leaf, now naturally oxidized, a characteristic feature of numerous Russian icons produced between the 18th and 19th centuries. The Virgin’s face is distinguished by its soft modeling and delicate highlights, which lend it remarkable expressive intensity, while her maphorion is embellished with fine dotted ornamentation and the traditional Marian stars. The Slavonic inscriptions flanking the halo identify the Mother of God according to the customary Orthodox devotional formula. The austere composition, the simplicity of the iconographic scheme, and the refined rendering of the face recall the models of late seventeenth-century Russian icon painting, reinterpreted in the devotional works of the late eighteenth century.The iconography of the Mother of God “Comfort of the Afflicted” became widely established in Russia from the seventeenth century onward, evolving into one of the principal subjects of private devotion. The image expresses the Virgin’s role as mediator and compassionate protector, invoked as a source of comfort in times of suffering, illness, and the hardships of everyday life.Based on its stylistic characteristics, painting technique, iconographic composition, and the construction of the wooden support, this icon may be attributed to a Russian workshop active between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Item condition rating: **** good. The lot is in good condition, with normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time. The painted surface is in fair overall condition, exhibiting widespread craquelure in the ground layer and paint film consistent with the icon’s age. Surface abrasions, wear along the edges, oxidation-related changes in the silver leaf, and numerous small holes distributed across the entire surface are visible; these are attributable to the former attachment of a metal riza, which is now lost.The wooden support appears generally stable and consistent with traditional construction techniques. The reverse side shows normal signs of age and use, with no evidence of invasive structural restorations. Overall, the icon retains good legibility of the image and holds significant historical, devotional, and collector’s interest. Presence of wood-boring pests.