Lot 113A
Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A poignant icon delineated in egg tempera and gold leaf on wood depicting the Virgin of "Soothe My Sorrows" - the pensive Mother Mary with one hand on her temple looking quite sad, and the other holding the Christ Child - above the martyrs Saint Florus, Saint Laurus, and Saint Barbara. The baby Jesus is unfurling a scroll with the words, "Judge righteous judgment, and act mercifully and magnanimously." The name of this icon derives from a prayer to the Virgin: "Soothe the pain in my soul." She symbolizes the mother of all sorrows, and her favorite children are all who suffer as she has. Size: 5.9" W x 7" H (15 cm x 17.8 cm)
This icon type was brought to Moscow by the Cossacks in 1640, at the time of the Tsar Alexis I Mikhailovich. It was placed in the Church of St. Nicholas at Pupyshi in Moscow and brought about many miracles, particularly during the plaque of 1771. Several copies were made and one was brought to St. Petersburg in 1765 to be put in the Church of the Ascension. Many churches, in fact, were dedicated to this icon. According to Tradigo, "The image expresses the deep suffering felt by Mary when she saw her only son unjustly killed on Golgotha. The Virgin relived that sorrow during her long years of solitude, until she was assumed in to Heaven and received consolation, in the Dormition, for her pain." In the same way Mary takes the sorrows of all humanity upon herself." (p. 212)
Icons (icon means "image" in Greek) are sacred objects within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. Found in homes as well as churches, these painted images depict holy persons and saints as well as illustrate scenes from the Scriptures. Some icons are encased in precious metal covers (oklads) adorned with pearls and semi-precious stones or glass-fronted wooden cases (kiots). Some - like this example - are framed with ornate silver basmas. Icons are not worshiped, but are instead venerated for their ability to focus the power of an individual's prayer to God. As such they are truly "windows into heaven."
Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection; ex-D. Meyerson Estate, California, acquired 1980s to 1990s
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#190919
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Condition:
- Stable fissures to wood and some minor chips to paint and gesso near peripheries. Otherwise, intact and very nice with great remaining pigments. Craquelure to paint and patina throughout.
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