Virgin Hodegetria

Virgin Hodegetria

Unknown

This icon is called the Virgin Hodegetria. The first Virgin Hodegetria icon was said to have been painted by St. Luke and blessed by the Virgin herself. This particular icon has a riza, or decorative metal cover which protects the icon. Because of this cover, the only parts of the painted icon that are revealed are the hands and head. The painting style has a Western realism to it with emphasize of shading and highlights. On Mary's clothing, there are three starbursts, which symbolizes her virginity before, during, and after the birth of the sacred child. Because of the fact that the icon is not fully painted and because of the quality of wood, this icon is relatively cheap. This icon is damaged slightly, and some person has hammered in two silver nails (one on the bottom right hand corner and one in-between Christ and Mary), which were added to the icon at a later date.

19th C

Decorative Art

egg tempera and copper alloy

Metalwork

wood

27.5 x 22 x 3 cm.

Brown, A. W.