28 - Russian four-part icon depicting the Pokrov (Protection of the Mother of God), the Mother of God "Soothe My Sorrows," the Three-Handed Mother of God, and the Mother of God "of the Sign" - 19th century

Russian four-part icon depicting the Pokrov (Protection of the Mother of God), the Mother of God "Soothe My Sorrows," the Three-Handed Mother of God, and the Mother of God "of the Sign" - 19th century Egg tempera on panel and gold leaf Altezza x larghezza: 54 x 42 cm surmounted by calligraphic inscriptions in Old Church Slavonic, rendered in red along the upper margins. In the upper-left quadrant unfolds the complex and solemn composition of the Pokrov (the Protection of the Mother of God), set within the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople: above, the Virgin rises upon the clouds, holding the sacred protective veil, attended by the heavenly hosts; in the lower register, before the Royal Doors of the iconostasis, stands the deacon Saint Romanos the Melodist, accompanied by Andrew the Fool-for-Christ, who points out the theophanic vision to his disciple Epiphanius. The upper-right quadrant features the lyrical and poignant iconography of the Mother of God "Soothe My Sorrows" (Utoli moja pečali)—as explicitly stated by the inscription above ("ОУТОЛИ МОЯ БОЛЭЗНИ" / Soothe my sorrows/ailments). The Virgin is depicted in a half-length portrait, her sorrowful face inclined and caressed by her own right hand, while her left arm supports the Divine Infant Emmanuel, who holds an unrolled scroll containing a passage from the Scriptures. In the lower-left register appears, with magnificent regality, the Mother of God of the Three Hands (Troeručica); here, the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus are adorned with imposing, gem-encrusted sovereign crowns and rich, highlighted scarlet robes. A circular pendant rests upon the Virgin’s breast, while in the lower-left section, one can discern the characteristic third hand—an ex-voto—associated with the miracle of Saint John of Damascus. Finally, the lower right quadrant is occupied by the canonical depiction of the Mother of God of the Sign (Znamenie)—presented here in a solemn variation in which the Virgin, shown from the waist up with her hands raised in a rigid gesture of prayer, bears upon her breast a radiant, golden-lit mandorla containing Christ Emmanuel in the act of blessing; flanking this, at the top, are the traditional monograms of the Cherubim and Seraphim, featuring the winged faces of these angels. H.E. Most Rev. Francisco-Javier Lozano Sebastián, Titular Archbishop of Penafiel and Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus. Item condition grading: **** good.The lot is in a good state of preservation with the normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time.