74 - Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with coins - Early 20th century

Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with coins - Early 20th century Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 22 x 17.5 cm The composition is structured according to a strict, symmetrical, and hierarchical arrangement of figures. At the center of the panel stands the monumental full-length figure of the Virgin Mary, positioned atop a circular podium, her head gently inclined. The Mother of God wears a vermilion tunic accented with gold, draped beneath a voluminous dark mantle with deep, linear folds; a pristine white veil frames her face. Her arms are outstretched in a gesture of solemn welcome, intercession, and maternal protection toward suffering humanity. Scattered across the central field—surrounding the Virgin and appearing on her garments—are several small, bronze-colored discs inscribed to resemble coins. This significant iconographic detail alludes to a renowned miracle that occurred in Saint Petersburg on July 23, 1888, when an icon of this type survived a lightning strike, with coins from an offering box becoming embedded in its painted surface. Flanking the Virgin, arranged symmetrically across superimposed registers, are groups of the faithful—the sick and the destitute—depicted in postures of prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. These figures are attended and guided by winged, haloed angels who serve as heavenly intermediaries, pointing toward the saving presence of the Mother of God. Above the various groups of the afflicted, inscriptions on scrolls—written in Church Slavonic Cyrillic—specify their particular conditions of destitution or illness. Crowning the scene, within a radiant nimbus of luminous clouds, appears the figure of Jesus Christ the Almighty in a gesture of blessing; He towers over the entire composition, His right hand raised and a globe held in His other hand, thereby sealing the divine sanction of the Virgin Mary’s intercession. The entire tableau is set against a solid-gold background, with the upper portion featuring two stylized palm branches that evoke Paradise. The scene is enclosed within an intricate, geometric border—also executed on a gold ground—adorned with continuous interlacing patterns and polychrome arabesques in blue and red enamel, reflecting a Neo-Russian style characteristic of the late 19th or early 20th century. H.E. Most Rev. 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.