59 - RUSSIAN SCHOOL, 18TH CENTURY.

RUSSIAN SCHOOL, 18TH CENTURY. “Icon of the Mother of God with various Marian titles and the Dormition of the Virgin.” Tempera on wood panel with a gilded background. It shows signs of wear, craquelure, and loss of polychromy and gilding. Measurements: 45 x 38 x 3 cm. This icon is an interesting example of 18th-century Russian religious painting, characterized by its continuity with Byzantine models and the richness of its devotional traditions. Its particular interest lies in the complexity of the iconographic program, which brings together various titles of the Mother of God and the episode of her Dormition, forming a composition of profound spiritual significance. In the upper left panel, one can recognize a depiction closely resembling the Mother of God of Bogolyubovo (Bogolyubskaya), a title of medieval origin particularly venerated in Russia for her protective and intercessory nature. In the lower left is the Dormition of the Virgin (Koimesis), one of the major themes of Orthodox iconography, depicting Mary’s passage into eternal life. The lower right panel is dedicated to the Virgin and Child, following a typology that emphasizes the close emotional bond between the two figures, while the upper right panel features a Marian composition accompanied by various saints. This type of multi-scene icon was widely popular in Russia, especially in the context of private devotion, as it brought together different sacred images on a single panel. Its composition reflects a conception of religious painting in which each representation has a specific theological meaning and forms part of a whole intended for prayer and contemplation. During the 18th century, Russian workshops maintained the tradition of egg tempera on panel and gilded backgrounds, preserving the iconographic formulas inherited from Byzantium despite the growing influence of Western painting. This work bears witness to that continuity and stands out for the variety of its Marian program, its rich color palette, and the preservation of elements of its gilded decoration—qualities that enhance its appeal among collectors of ancient icons.