Ícone - Mãe de Deus - Madeira

A fine 19th-century Russian Orthodox icon depicting the "Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God", flanked by selected family patron saints.

The central register masterfully illustrates the multi-figure canonical scene of the Virgin Mary's birth. On the left, Saint Anna rests upon a high bed, attended by a servant bringing nourishment. Below, two midwives prepare the first bath for the newborn infant Mary. On the right, Saint Joachim is seated in a reflective posture within an architectural setting, identified by his name inscription. The prominent red Church Slavonic title at the top translates to the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God.

The borders feature two finely rendered family patron saints standing in prayer: Saint Theodore on the left and Saint Irina on the right.

The icon is executed in tempera and oil on a solid wooden panel with a traditional gesso ground. The execution shows deep, rich, dark-toned pigments and fine linear details characteristic of 19th-century traditional icon-painting workshops.

The icon is in antique condition and shows its age honestly. The surface exhibits historical paint losses, chips, and wear, particularly around the borders and outer edges of the wooden panel, as clearly visible in the photographs. The piece has been partially restored in the past to stabilize the paint layer and preserve the central composition. The small wooden panel remains stable.

Object: Antique Russian Orthodox Icon
Subject: Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God with Saints Theodore and IrinaOrigin: Russia
Period: 19th Century
Medium/Technique: Tempera and Oil on Wooden Panel
Height: 13.0 cm
Width: 12.0 cm
Thickness: 1.9 cm
Condition: Antique condition, visible paint losses, historically restored

A charming, small-scale house icon with a highly detailed, complex multi-figure scene and desirable family saints, making it an attractive piece for collectors of traditional religious art.