Wood triptych with the Mother of God

Object/Artifact

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Wood triptych with the Mother of God

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.122

Description

This icon shows a scene of three figures carved relief style into what is probably boxwood (Dr. Karen Kettering, 11/15/2023). On the left wing of the tri fold frame is a male saint with a monk's haircut clothed in robes and stole. One hand is raised in the blessing gesture while the other holds a book. A Russian Cyrillic caption beneath him denotes his name and was likely added after the original piece was created. A similar caption sits under the figure on the right wing. This male had a full head of hair and holds both hands clasped over his stole. In the center panel, Mother and Christ Child sit together wearing miter crowns. The Mother of God sits with her head tilted to the right and wears a maphorion veil and robes with carved floral embroidery. Christ inclines his head towards her and holds a scroll in one hand while the other is raised in blessing. Cyrillic captions sit on either sides of them as well as the Greek IC XC symbol of Christ. Above them, a single eye within a triangle sends beams into a cloud. Originally described as having a polychrome frame, but no evidence of color is found in the current piece. There is very faint pencil writing on the back.

Collection

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.02

Source or Donor

Betsy Scheuring

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Icon

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Religious

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

7-1/8 in

Width

8-1/4 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

An object for private devotions, this triptych (carved in low relief) displays the Mother of God in its central panel with standing figures of saints in the side panels, who turn toward the Virgin. The latter seem to be canonized priests or officials of the church who wear liturgical robes, and whose heavenly status is indicated by the clouds above their head. The Mother of God is of the “Hodegetria” type, gesturing toward little Christ, who makes a blessing. Both figures have elaborate crowns framed by haloes. The Virgin wears raiments of three types: a tunic, a cloak, and a veil that covers her head and shoulders and is ornamented with a pattern (see 2005.02.018). A ruffle of clouds above the Virgin and Child suggests a celestial setting. This compartment and the two flanking ones have a very delicate, ribbon-like border. The refined carving of this work shows western medieval influence, and the presence of a curvilinear frame above the figural compartments has Russian parallels (see 2005.02.043); the central projecting panel contains a triangle with the all-seeing eye.