AN ICON ‘THE MOTHER OF GOD, THE JOY OF ALL WHO SORROW’ IN A SILVER OKLAD

Central Russia, end of the 19th century Oklad: silver, chased, embossed Hallmarks: master’s mark ‘I.C.’; silversmith’s mark ‘A.K.’ over the date ‘1880’; coat of arms of the city of Moscow and silver mark ‘84’ printed inscription in Italian ‘LA MADRE DI DIO ‘GIOIA DI TUTTI GLI AFLITTI’’ (on the reverse) tempera, levkas on wood panel 34.5 x 28 cm Condition: oklad is in very good condition, without restorations The composition of ‘The Mother of God, the Joy of All Who Sorrow’ illustrates the words of a prayer in which the Mother of God is venerated as 'a joy for the sorrowful, a feeding for the hungry, clothing for the naked, a recovery for the sick' etc. ‘Our Lady of All Who Sorrow’ is depicted fulllength, with the Child on her left arm and surrounded by Saint Anisya, Saint Sergius, Saint Pelagia and Saint Nathalie. At the lower edge of the oklad there is a text of a prayer to the Mother of God.