Three-Handed Mother of God, The

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Three-Handed Mother of God, The

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.025

Description

Tempera painting on slightly curved wooden panel. The panel is painted dark red on the top and bottom and makes up the outer border followed by orange, sky blue, olive green, and bright red before dropping into the main image. The focal point is Mary clothed in a red veil with gold edging and star motifs in three places over a blue robe. Two of Mary's hands are open palm towards her breast while the third supports baby Jesus. Jesus is clothed in salmon pink and green robes with his left hand holding a scroll and his right held up in the two finger blessing symbol. Both figures have a thin yellow halo, Jesus's has his Greek symbols within.

Type of Painting

Panel

Artwork Details

Medium

Tempera

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

19th Century

Place

Country

Russia

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

5-3/4 in

Depth

1 in

Exhibitions

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Surveying the Sacred: Analysis of the Scheuring Collection of Eastern Orthodox Icons (2025)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

The image is a variation of the “Hodegetria” type among representations of the Mother of God, in which the Virgin cradles the child in one arm while pointing toward him with her other hand. She is the guide who shows the way, indicating Christ’s role as the future Savior of mankind. The child turns in three-quarter view away from his mother, making a sign of blessing and holding a scroll in his other hand. A third hand of the Virgin appears below symbolically, as if to emphasize her gesture toward Christ. The Virgin’s pose and form of drapery have numerous parallels, but the child’s dress is particularly rich, showing a bright pink cloak over a green tunic. The haloes are outlined in gold on an olive-colored ground. The artist successfully reworked earlier Byzantine models.