Quadripartite icon, 19th century

Egg tempera on panel

Height x width: 28.5 x 24 cm

The upper-left quadrant depicts the solemn and complex scene of the Pokrov (the Protection of the Mother of God), set within the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople: above, the Virgin rises upon the clouds, holding the sacred veil (omophorion) and attended by the heavenly hosts; in the lower register, before the iconostasis, stands the deacon Saint Romanos the Melodist, accompanied by Andrew the Fool-for-Christ, who points out the vision to his disciple Epiphanius. In the upper-right quadrant, the half-length figure of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Nikola Chudotvorets) emerges with regal, hieratic presence; he is portrayed in solemn episcopal vestments adorned with crosses, his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing, while he holds a precious, gem-encrusted, closed Gospel book against his chest. The lower-left register features the rich and poignant iconography of the Mother of God, "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (Vseh Skorbjashchikh Radost'): the Virgin and Child appear as full-length figures within a radiant mandorla, surrounded by angels who bring comfort and spiritual healing to the throngs of the sick, the crippled, and the destitute—arranged in a pyramidal formation at her feet. Finally, the lower-right quadrant presents an intimate composition of full-length intercessory patron saints: at the center stands the luminous, winged figure of the Guardian Angel (Angel Khranitel'), bearing a processional cross, flanked symmetrically by two protector saints chosen by the family who commissioned the icon—a male martyr on the left, and a female martyr on the right, draped in a purple *maphorion*. From a stylistic and technical perspective, the work displays a superb level of craftsmanship—characteristic of the finest 19th-century devotional workshops—evident in the masterful application of polished gold-leaf backgrounds and the precise anatomical definition of the numerous tiny figures. The color palette skillfully juxtaposes vibrant tones of cinnabar red and brilliant green against the warm ochre hues of the rocky and architectural settings.