"Mother of God - Mountain not handed"
(Before cleaning)
Moscow, 19th century in the style of the 16th century. Around 1850. Elite Moscow Old Believer school.
Size: 37 x 31 cm.
Technique & Material: 17th century plated board, gesso, egg tempera, gold leaf, drying oil.
Description: The icon was painted during the reign of the imeretator of the Saint Martyr Nikolai Romanov. Because of his personal love for the icon and the huge collection of icons in the king’s family (in every room of the palace), the icon again became fashionable among the high society and even the most famous painters of that time such as Vrubel, Nesterov, Vasnetsov and others began to turn to icon painting but mixed manner. Therefore, the 19th century was the last renaissance of icon painting. But this icon was one of the bearers of an ancient tradition, as it was painted in the strict observance of all the rules and canons of the 16th century. Personal painting and cutting clothes. Board of the 17th century. Drying oil was darkened, sometimes smoothed, therefore, clearing from the darkened layer of varnish, was carried out with jeweler's precision and it took quite a while.
The origin of this plot is still a mystery. According to generally accepted versions - this plot appeared on the basis of the interpretation of the Old Testament Prophet Daniil's sleep, the king of Novohudonosor’s. In a dream, the king saw how miraculously from a stone mountain split off a large piece. This piece broke pagan idol. "... You saw him until the stone split off the mountain without the influence of hands, and struck the idol ... "(Daniel 2.34)
In the interpretation the Mother of God is compared with the mountain, and Jesus Christ - with the stone. Separate symbolic images on the icon are borrowed from other Old Testament subjects, interpreted by theologians, as well as under the influence of the Akathist to the Mother of God and various hymnographic texts that arose under his influence.
This icon was painted in the 19th century at the highest artistic level by the anonymous talented icon painter. His mastery is emphasized not only by the highest level of icon painting, but also with virtuoso inscriptions in gold.
State of preservation: When the icon came to us, it was under a layer of surface dirt and darkened drying oil. The icon was cleared of darkened drying oil and soot and surface pollution were removed.
This icon is in a state of perfect preservation.
Please ask for more detailed information.
High Resolution Images: fragments.
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Божья Матерь Гора Нерукосечная.
Москва, 19-ый век
Размер: 37 x 31 cm.
Намоленная доска 17-ого века, левкас, яичная темпера, сусальное золото, олифа