PYOTR ABRASIMOV

Tempera on panel with riza

Larger height x width: 13.5 x 11.5 cm. Smaller height x width: 9 x 7 cm. Weight: 206.4 g

A lot consisting of two Russian Marian icons of different sizes and iconographies, both characterized by the typical protective metal covering.The icon on the left (Larger): Depicts the Mother of God of Kazan (Kazanskaja), the protector of Russia. The Virgin is painted half-length with her gaze directed toward the viewer, while the Infant Jesus stands and blesses. The artwork is embellished with a gilded brass riza, finely decorated with engraving and chasing techniques, featuring a densely punched sunburst background and a rich border with geometric motifs of Neo-Russian inspiration. The lower part of the metal sheet features the identifying inscription embossed in Cyrillic characters.The icon on the right (Smaller): Depicts the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (Vseh skorbyashchikh Radost) or a variant of the Virgin of the Sign. Mary is portrayed half-length while holding the Infant Jesus on her right arm. The artwork is covered by a silvered metal riza, entirely embossed with floral motifs and continuous geometric elements, with beaded haloes framing the sacred faces.

The riza of the left-hand icon (the ‘Greater’ one), made of gilded copper, is hallmarked with the mark of the Moscow silversmith Pyotr Abrosimov.
The rizaof the icon on the right (the 'Minor' one) is fully hallmarked with the 84 zolotniks (875/1000 silver mark used in Moscow between 1882 and 1889, and with the mark of an unidentified silversmith.