Novodvorsʹka (Ukrainian) or Novodvorskaya (Russian) The Mother of God
Name/Title
Novodvorsʹka (Ukrainian) or Novodvorskaya (Russian) The Mother of GodEntry/Object ID
2005.02.006Description
The visible areas of the icon show the Mother of God of a Hodegetria type. She points to the Christ child in a gesture meant to convey that he is the source of humanity’s salvation. (Hodegetria is a Greek word meaning “she who points the way.”) She is dressed in a deep maroon maphorion, or mantel, and stares solemnly at the viewer. Christ is seated on her right side and is dressed in a bright reddish-orange himation (cloak or wrap) over a green chiton (tunic). The child raises both arms toward her. Both figures’ garments are highlighted with gold striations that define folds in the drapery while also representing the emanation of heavenly light. The riza is decorated with cloisonné enamel in a scrolling foliate pattern in shades of opaque and mottled navy blue, turquoise, white, cream, pale pink, and mustard yellow together with translucent purple and green. The riza includes a crescent-shaped tsata resembling a necklace and is suspended from the halos with metal loops. The enamel ornament conforms with that of the riza, indicating that they were made at the same time as a set. At upper left and right are roundels with the Greek letters ΜΡ ΘΥ formed from metal strips set against a translucent green enamel ground. These letters are an abbreviation for the Greek words Μήτηρ Θεού (Meter Theou) meaning “Mother of God.”Type of Painting
PanelArtwork Details
Medium
WoodCollection
Betsy Scheuring Icon CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2005.02Source or Donor
Betsy ScheuringAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gift of Betsy ScheuringMade/Created
Date made
circa 1900Place
Country
UkraineLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
IconNomenclature Primary Object Term
Symbol, ReligiousNomenclature Sub-Class
Religious ObjectsNomenclature Class
Ceremonial ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Height
5-3/4 inWidth
4 inDepth
3/4 inExhibitions
Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)
Surveying the Sacred: Analysis of the Scheuring Collection of Eastern Orthodox Icons (2025)