A fine icon of the Hodigitria Mother of God, Crete, circle of Andreas Ritzos,🧸 circa 1500

the Virgin's face is painted in various shades of ochre and modeled with very fine, white, parallel lines. Her cheeks are raised with pink. Underneath her deep red maphorion she wears a blue tunic richly decorated with gold on her breast and sleeves. A gold star adorns her forehead and shoulders. The Virgin holds the Christ Child,🃏 who makes a gesture of blessing, on her left arm. Christ is clothed in a dark green tunic, covered with an ochre robe decorated with broad gold striations. In his left hand he holds a closed scroll tied with thin red threads. He is looking towards his mother, who points towards her Son with her right hand. The halo of Virgin is embellished with scrolling foliage, meticulously punched into the golden background. This same motif is used in the upper part of the icon along the edges.

45 by 36 cm; 11 11/16 by 14 3/16 in.