5. Mother of God of Smolensk

Details

Russian, second half 18th century
36.5 x 31.7 cms
The icon is enriched with a gold plated silver riza made by Master Alderman O.P., Assay Master Stephan Belkin, 1782, Moscow.

Provenance:
Private collection, Germany.
Private collection, The Netherlands.

Literature:
‘Russische iconen. De kunst van het verzamelen’, F. en C. Tóth, Amersfoort, The Netherlands, 2009, p. 50, ill. 39.

Description:
The image of the Mother of God of Smolensk is probably the oldest Russian version of the original Byzantine Hodegetria. The posture of the Mother of God derives from the ceremonial of the imperial court: solemn and severe.

According to legend, it was brought from Constantinople as a dowry for the wedding of Prince Vladimir of Kiev and the Greek Princess Anna in 988. Another tradition dates its arrival in Russia to 1046, again as a dowry, for the wedding of Prince Vsevolod of Cernigov and Kiev with another Greek Princess Anna. The icon was taken to Smolensk in 1097 and was given a permanent place in the cathedral there in 1101: thereafter it became known as the Mother of God of Smolensk. The feast day of this icon is celebrated on 28th of July.

The two saints in the left border are the Guardian Angel and Saint Paphnutius, Abbot of Borov. In the opposite border we see Church Father John Chrysostom and Saint Simon of Persia.