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Russian icon depicting the Mother of the God of the Sign, Early 20th century

Height x width: 31 x 26 cm.

The iconography known as the ‘Mother of God of the Sign’ has its origins in the earliest Christian depictions in the Catacombs, inspired by the pagan iconography of the Orante, where she is presented as a half-length figure with her arms raised and her hands open with palms upwards, a symbol of prayer and adoration, approaching two cherubs with outstretched wings. In front of her, on her breast, in a medallion, is the Child blessing with the Trinitarian gesture with his right hand, while with his left he holds the scroll of Scripture.

Literature:
The cult of the icon developed after Constantine, spreading from Byzantium to Russia, where it became particularly venerated in Novgorod, a city believed to have been protected by it. The Russian version derives from the Byzantine Platytera (10th-11th century), with the Virgin depicted half-length, frontally, with her arms raised in prayer. On her breast, in a medallion, appears the Christ Child with an adult face, blessing with both hands.

The Russian icon of the Nev'jansk school (early 19th century) has a refined style: Mary's purple maphorion and the Child's red tunic shine with gold highlights. Two cherubs (one red and one blue) frame the Virgin's golden nimbus. The robes are decorated in gold and there are traditional Greek inscriptions (Mother of God, Jesus Christ, O ON).

Refer to the Catalogue of Cultural Goods of the Italian Ministry of Culture: https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/Lombardia/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/3y010-01693_R03