Virgin Eleousa (Mother of God of Tenderness), The

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Virgin Eleousa (Mother of God of Tenderness), The

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.020

Description

Tempera on flat wooden panel bordered in red with gold leaf border. The central image shows the Virgin with her head tilted to the right touching the cheek of the Christ child, whom she holds in her arms. Mary is clothed in light turquoise robes with bright red head veil. Gold star motifs are pictured over her forehead and over one shoulder. gold ornaments fall from her right shoulder. The child is clothed in the same light turquoise robe with a pink sash and orange cloak. His feet are bare and he has curly brown hair.

Type of Painting

Panel

Collection

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.02

Source or Donor

Betsy Scheuring

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Made/Created

Time Period

20th Century

Place

* Untyped Place

Greece

Dimensions

Height

7-5/16 in

Width

5-3/4 in

Exhibitions

Themes of Christian Art Drawn From Local Sources (2021)

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

"In this traditional half-length image of the Mother of God or Theotokos, she inclines her head downward to the right, affectionately embracing the Christ child, whose face touches that of his mother as he looks up at her. The Virgin holds the child’s right hand as she supports him below, and he grasps part of her garment. Both figures have haloes inscribed in red on the gold ground, and that of Christ has a cross inside. The Virgin wears a ruby red cloak that covers her head and is ornamented with gold stars on the shoulder and above her forehead. The right sleeve displays a delicate fringe, and under the cloak, the Virgin wears a light green tunic with a wave-like border above her brow. The infant has an orange mantle over his own light green tunic belted by a red sash. The linear treatment of forms, the round face of the Virgin with its slender, long nose, elegantly arching eyes, and small mouth, as well as the glowing gold ground, all reflect later Byzantine figure style. The emotional bond between mother and child is conveyed effectively. "