Icon - Feast day icon - Wood

This icon is a Russian narrative icon dedicated to the Virgin Mary, specifically of the type:

“The Dormition of the Virgin with scenes from her life” (cycle of the Mother of God).

Characteristics that help identify it

Main scene: in the lower central part the Dormition of the Virgin appears.

The Virgin lies on a funerary bed.

The apostles surround her.

Christ appears behind, holding Mary’s soul depicted as a child wrapped in white, a classic detail of Orthodox iconography.

Small scenes around it recount episodes from the Virgin’s life and the tradition about her death.

Episodes commonly represented (several are seen in your icon)

Among the scenes that appear in the side panels are probably:

- Nativity of the Virgin (St. Anne with the child).
- Presentation of Mary in the Temple.
- Annunciation.
- Visitation.
- Nativity of Christ.
- Life of Mary with the apostles.
- Announcement of her death by the archangel.
- Miraculous gathering of the apostles before her Dormition.
- Dormition / burial.
- Assumption or glorification.

Style and probable period

From the color of the background, the writing, and the composition:

Russian iconography

Probably 18th or 19th century

Egg tempera on wood panel with gesso (the traditional icon painting technique).

Interesting detail

This type of icons are called hagiographic icons or “with scenes of life” because the central panel is surrounded by small scenes that tell the entire sacred story.