TIKHVIN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD. FULL-SIZE COPY AFTER THE MIRACLE-WORKING

An expressive large-format icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God, painted in Moscow in the mid-19th century as a full-size copy after the celebrated miracle-working icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God Hodegetria. Of particular importance for the attribution is the Church Slavonic inscription along the lower border: «Образъ Пр[есвя]тыя Б[огороди]цы, мерою и подобиемъ с самого Ея чудотворнаго образа Одигитрии Тихфинския», meaning: “Image of the Most Holy Mother of God, made to the same dimensions and likeness as Her miracle-working icon of the Tikhvin Hodegetria.” The inscription therefore identifies the present icon not as a free repetition of the composition, but as a copy executed “to the same dimensions and likeness” as the venerated miracle-working prototype. The Mother of God is depicted half-length, supporting the Christ Child on her left arm. Her right hand is raised in a gesture indicating the Saviour, characteristic of the Hodegetria iconographic type. Christ is shown seated with crossed legs; the prominently exposed sole of one foot is among the distinctive features of the Tikhvin iconographic variant. The State Russian Museum likewise identifies the Tikhvin Mother of God as a particular variant of the Hodegetria type and notes this arrangement of the Christ Child’s legs as one of its characteristic iconographic features. The composition is distinguished by its monumentality and strict frontality. The dark maphorion of the Mother of God is adorned with gold stars and an ornamental border. The garments of the Christ Child are extensively gilded and articulated with finely drawn folds. Both figures are framed by large dark haloes outlined in gold. The background bears the traditional abbreviated inscriptions identifying the Mother of God and Christ. The inscription along the lower border forms an important historical element of the work and documents its direct relationship to the miracle-working Tikhvin icon. Material: Wood panel, gesso, tempera, gilding. Dimensions: 89 × 66 cm. Condition: Good condition. The icon has been preserved without restoration or later overpainting. Natural craquelure, localised rubbing and minor losses to the paint layer are visible, consistent with the age of the work.

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