Lot 24
AN EXCEPTIONAL RUSSIAN ICON OF THE UNBURNT THORNBUSH MOTHER OF GOD, MSTERA, CIRCA 1890. Finely painted with exacting detail, subtle shading and use of translucent pigments over incised gilt ground, as well as extensive chrysography and ornate calligraphy. Here Mary, the Mother of God, is shown at center within a four-pointed blue star upon a red star. She holds the Christ Child on Her left arm, and in Her right is a ladder (a symbol of Mary in the Akathist Canon), near which a circle with the head of Christ is found. On Mary’s breast is the “stone not cut with hands,” in front of which is a shoulder-length image of Christ crowned and robed as a bishop (“the Great High Priest”). In the four points of the red star are the symbols of the Four Evangelists: the winged man of Matthew, the eagle of Mark, the ox of Luke and the lion of John. In the blue star and in the petals against which the red and blue star are set, angels are depicted, representing the virtues and the elemental powers. They are: “The Spirit of Wisdom, the angel who kindles fire;” “The Spirit of Understanding, angel of the voice;” “The Angel of Thunder and Lightning, who reveals the second coming of Christ;” “The Angel of Rainbows and Clouds;” “The Angel of Frost and Ice;” and “The Angel of Scorching.” At the upper left corner, Moses sees the bush which burns but is not consumed (Exodus 3:2). At the lower left corner is Ezekiel seeing the closed door to the East (Ezekiel 44:1-3). At lower right Jacob dreams of the ladder reaching heaven (Genesis 28:11-17). All of these scenes are considered Old Testament prefigurations of the Mother of God and Her role in the Incarnation. The sides and verso encased in a painted coating of smoothly finished gesso, a time consuming technique usually only found on the highest quality icons produced in the most exclusive icon workshops in Moscow. 14.1 inches x 11.6 inches (36 x 29.5 cm).
Estimate:  $3,000 - 5,000   € 2,100 - 3,500

Price Realized: $13,750.00