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View full screen - View 1 of Lot 666. An icon of the Eleousa Mother of God, Crete, early 16th century.

An icon of the Eleousa Mother of God, Crete, early 16th century

Auction Closed

November 30, 06:31 PM GMT

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

An icon of the Eleousa Mot𒁃her of God, Crete, ea🐠rly 16th century


in all probability this 16th century oval panel of the Eleousa Mother of God was originally rectangular, and was cut down at a later date to fit into its oval frame. Against a gold ground, the Mother of God is portrayed half-length. The Virgin is dressed in a deep blue chiton and a purple maphorion (mantle), the fringes and the hems of her garment rendered in gold. Christ is dressed in a g👍reen chiton and an ochre himation highlighted with chrysography. A bright red band is wrapped around his waist. He has put his right hand into his mothe💛r’s and holds a closed scroll in his left hand.

20.5 by 16cm; 7⅞by 6 5/16 in. excluding frame

29 by 24cm; 11 7/16 by 9 7/16 in. including frame

Private collection, UK
Identical iconographic and stylistic elements can be seen on a number of icons from the first half of the 16th century. The Christ Child looks up at his mother and tries to catch her eye. The post-Byzantine icon painters on Crete were renowned for their exceptional technical skills. The capital Candia (the present Heraklion) became a centre of artistic activity after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. For centuries, the Cretan art of painting had been of high quality, but the fall of Constantinople acted as a catalyst. The Imperial City’s best painters fled to Crete, which in the meantime had come under Venetian rule. They played an active part in the great blossoming of icon painting on the island especially in the 15th an 16th century.