45. Mother of God of Korsun

Details

Russian, late 18th century, Palekh
53 x 45 cms

Provenance:
Private collection, Germany.

Description:
The Mother of God of Korsun is a tenderness icon. Hands and faces are emphasized and each further distraction has been left out. The Mother inclines her head lovingly towards the Child and puts both hands around her Child in a protective gesture.

The title Korsunskaya is derived from the port of Cherson, Korsun in Russian. Through this city the icon arrived in Russia when the daughter of Eufrosyne of Polozk married the well-known Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky in the year 1239. She brought the icon along as a dowry.

The Orthodox Church celebrates the festival of the icon on October 9.