A superb, late 16th century Russian icon depicting a mourning Mother of God holding a handkerchief. A work of art from a monastic workshop of the Moscow school. This icon reflects the deep spirituality and mysticsm of the early Russian icons that where painted by monks that led a life of prayer and unworldlyness, most likely connected with the hesichasm movement and praying the Jesus prayer thousands of times per day. The icon reflects the tenderness and finesse of this deeply spiritual artists that where still influenced by Andrei Rublev ( 1360-1430) and his deeply spiritual icons. The purple of the mantle, the way the gold stars are painted on the mantle, the meditative gaze of the Mother of God, the slenderness of the handcut panel with only 1 sponka and the thinness of the panel all point to the Era of the late 16th century. The background of the icon is laid free to the levkas lawyer. A really fine and rare icon, 25 x 21.5 cm. Good state of preservation.