Icon - Wood - Consolation

«ВСѢМЪ СКОРБЯЩИМЪ РАДОСТЬ» (Joy to all the afflicted).
(A todos los afligidos, alegría).
Es precisamente la fórmula tradicional asociada a la Virgen «Alegría de todos los afligidos».
The composition of the icon is very characteristic:
- The Virgin appears in the center, standing on the clouds, with the Child Jesus in her arms.
- She is accompanied by angels, who intercede and aid people.
- At the bottom, distressed, ill, needy and suffering people appear, raising their hands toward the Mother of God.
- The figures represent those seeking consolation, healing, protection, and help.
- On both sides, saints appear as intercessors.
A very interesting feature of this exemplar
It is not a simple representation of the «Joy of All the Afflicted», but a fairly developed narrative composition, with numerous figures at the bottom.
Furthermore, the style is clearly Russian of a late tradition, with strong Western influence: the figures have volume, anatomy, and movement that are more naturalistic than in old Russian icons.