119 - Mother of God of Kazan (Kazanskaya) - 19th century

Mother of God of Kazan (Kazanskaya) - 19th century Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 31.5 x 26 cm One of the most venerated Marian images in Russian Orthodoxy and a historic protector of the nation. The Virgin is depicted from the waist up—her shoulders appearing somewhat narrow—with her head tilted sharply toward the infant Jesus in a gesture that is both protective and elegiac. The Christ Child stands on the right, positioned frontally and in a strictly vertical posture. Mary wears a blue maphorion (veil/mantle) with pronounced folds highlighted in gold. The infant Christ is shown standing, visible down to the knees; his right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing, while his left hand and the rest of his body are draped in the golden folds of a chiton and himation. The faces of the sacred figures are rendered with meticulous, nuanced brushwork, featuring amber-toned complexions and intense gazes directed straight at the viewer. 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. There are some losses, areas of paint loss, and restorations.