Russian icon depicting the Mother of God of Vladimir (Vladimirskaya) with a riza, 19th century

The icon presents one of the most venerated images in Orthodox Christianity: the Mother of God of Vladimir (Vladimirskaja), a sublime expression of the Eleusa (Tenderness) iconographic type. The Infant Jesus is portrayed on the Virgin's right arm, with his face tenderly pressed against his Mother's and his left arm wrapped around her neck. This intimate embrace holds a profound theological meaning: while the cheek-to-cheek contact symbolizes the mystical union between God and humanity, the Virgin's left hand discreetly points toward her Son, assimilating the scene to the Hodegetria type (she who shows the way to Salvation). Mary's deep and melancholy gaze does not look at the Child but is projected toward the viewer, revealing an intimate and dramatic foreboding of the Passion and the future suffering of her Son on the cross. A peculiar detail that rigidly defines this specific 12th-century Byzantine prototype, distinguishing it from other variants of Tenderness, is the posture of the Child, who shows the sole of his left foot to the viewer. The faces emerge with strong expressive intensity from the openings in the metal sheet, showing the accurate tempera painting layers applied through superimposed highlights. The artwork is covered by a rich and theatrical riza in silvered and gilded metal of exceptional sculptural impact. A sumptuous baroque decoration of large leafy scrolls, cartouches, and high-relief floral motifs develops at the upper corners and along the sides, solemnly framing the sacred image.

The icon is mounted with a silver-plated metal riza, decorated in repoussé and chased work.