Smolenskaya Mother of God, The

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Smolenskaya Mother of God, The

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.096

Description

Wood panel covered in green imitation wood frame with gold border on the inside. A green velvet background with brown discoloration features a small painting of Mary and Jesus sitting on her lap facing forward covered by square silver riza.

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

Date made

1875 - 1900

Place

* Untyped Place

St. Petersburg, Russia

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Makers Mark

Location

Lower left hand corner of silver riza; under Mary's hand

Transcription

E.H., 84, man on horseback

Language

Cyrillic

Translation

E.N., silver standard 84, city hallmark of Moscow

Dimensions

Height

8-3/4 in

Width

8-1/4 in

Depth

3/4 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

In this variation of the “Hodegetria” type, the Mother of God looks outward as she bends her head slightly, and the seated child similarly looks toward the viewer. The baby Jesus is shown in a more mature form and holds one hand in a blessing gesture. The two individuals have identical haloes, varied only in size and wear blue and gold robes with Mary's containing a star on her right shoulder. Both figures fit within an oval medallion that has a rectangular riza frame. The icon’s diminutive size indicates that it was intended for private use.