The Russian icon Mother of God of Vladimir, dated 1873, is an egg tempera on panel with a silver riza from a Muscovite workshop. The Vladimir prototype belongs to the Eleousa ("Tenderness") type: the Mother rests her cheek against that of the Son, who holds her in a trusting gesture. The composition, of great balance, focuses attention on the visible faces, while the precious riza covers the garments and the background with luminous metallic embroidery.
The work reinterprets one of the most revered models in Russian tradition, associated with the protection of the city and family. The Russian Vladimir icon combines theological strength and intense affectivity: the Mother-Son relationship is reflected in their gazes and, through it, the Virgin's intercession for those who contemplate.
The 32 x 27 cm format is perfect for representative domestic devotion or for a study; the harmonious proportions create a natural dialogue with classic and contemporary furnishings.
The 1873 silver riza, worked with repoussé and chasing, features an elegant vine and cluster motif on the border and around the halo, an Eucharistic symbol of the vine. The engraved details – pearls, astragals, frames – testify to the care of the 19th-century Muscovite workshops. The underlying painting offers warm colors, fine highlights, and measured chrysography, with well-calibrated folds that model the volumes without weighing them down.
For the discerning collector, this Russian icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir combines pictorial quality, nobility of materials, and high legibility. It is a classic image, ready to be displayed, capable of becoming the focal point of a Marian wall or of completing a collection dedicated to the great 19th-century Eleousai.
