104 - Four-panel icon - 19th century

Four-panel icon - 19th century Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 35.5 x 30.5 cm It focuses entirely on the most poignant and intimate Marian iconographies of the Orthodox tradition. The painting is set within a thick, dark border and features expansive golden backgrounds that define the immutability of the sacred space; along the upper and lower margins, there are inscriptions and titles in Cyrillic and Old Church Slavonic script. The internal composition is strictly organized into four symmetrical quadrants, presenting a complex and erudite anthology of Marian prayer and consolation. The upper-left quadrant depicts the “Seeker of the Lost” (Mother of God), identifiable by the figure of a sinner kneeling in prayer at the feet of the Virgin and Child—a subject deeply connected to themes of forgiveness and spiritual repentance. The upper-right quadrant shows the “Console My Sorrow” (Mother of God) icon, in which Mary holds the Child while gently resting her left hand against her own bowed face—a gesture conveying profound emotional engagement and a maternal melancholy for the sufferings of humanity. The lower-left quadrant features the “Feodorovskaya” Mother of God—a regal variant of the crowned Theotokos—in which the Virgin wears a sumptuous, gem-encrusted crown and holds the Child close in a tender embrace, embodying both affectionate intimacy and divine majesty. Finally, the lower-right quadrant features the intense image of the Mother of God known as the “Seven Swords” or “Softening of Evil Hearts.” In this depiction, Mary is shown from the waist up—without the Christ Child—her hands clasped against her chest, her heart symbolically pierced by seven blades; these evoke Simeon’s prophecy and the suffering she endured during her Son’s Passion. Further enriching the devotional program of the panel, the two narrow side margins contain full-length figures of hermit saints—acting as intercessors—or ascetic monks, set against a dark green background and included to provide protection for the patron’s family. 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. Minor losses.