Icon - Quadripartite icon - Wood

This is a Russian Orthodox icon depicting a complex theological and devotional composition, centered on the Cross of Christ, surrounded by various images of the Mother of God (Theotokos) in her different miraculous advocations.

Here are the main elements:

Center: The Crucifixion

In the center of the icon is the Cross with Christ crucified.
Below, there is a skull, symbolizing Adam's skull, indicating that Christ died at Golgotha ('place of the skull') to redeem original sin.

On the sides of the cross, there are usually:

La Madre de Dios (to the left of the viewer).

The Apostle John (to the right of the viewer).

Upper central

Above the cross is depicted Christ in glory or Christ the King, blessing, a symbol of his triumph over death.

The four icons of the Mother of God

Surrounding the Cross are four miraculous representations of the Virgin, highly venerated in Russia:

Top left
Probably the Mother of God of the Sign — Mary with the Child inside a circle over her chest, symbolizing the Incarnation.

Top right
The Mother of God of Kazan — the Virgin tilting her head towards the Child Jesus, both with an expression of tenderness.

Bottom left
Our Mother of God of Perpetual Help or of Smolensk, holding the Child with majesty.

bottom right
It could be the Mother of God of Tíjvin or Feodorov, both with the Child on their right arm, touching their cheek tenderly.

General symbolism

This type of icon is sometimes called 'The Cross and the Four Mothers of God' (Крест и четыре иконы Божией Матери).
It represents the unity between Christ's sacrifice and the intercession of His Mother, showing how the different advocations of the Virgin surround the Cross, as a protector of the Christian people.

Era and style

Due to its style — gold background, inscription in Church Slavonic, symmetrical composition, and decorative frame — this icon appears to be from the 19th-century Russian school, although inspired by older models (16th–17th centuries).