Ancient Russian icon ''Mother of God Akhtyrskaya'' 18th-19th century 51X39 cm

Antique Russian icon ''Mother of God Akhtyrskaya'' 18th-19th century 51.4X39.5 cm.Ancient orthodox religious icon dating back to the 18th-19th century, made in wood by an expert iconographer from Central Russia.The icon has dimensions of 51.4X39.5 cm, made of canvas with a layer of levkas, covered with gold leaf and hand painted with egg tempera.The subject, which appears in the foreground, is certainly the Akhtyrskaya Mother of God, a recurring subject among ancient icons.Indeed, the icon of the Akhtyrskaya Mother of God first appeared on July 2, 1739 to the priest Vasily in the Danilov Church of Protection, in a small village of the Akhtyrka Kharkov province. The priest, busy mowing the grass in his garden, noticed the icon that shone with its own light and, after making the sign of the cross, began to read the prayers of the Virgin. Afterwards, he decided to paint an icon to honor the Mother of God.Observing the icon, one can clearly see the influence of the Western world, both in the sorrowful expression of the Virgin and in the management of perspective.Mary seems to contemplate the mystery of her Son's passion, represented by a crucifix marked by an inclined platform, the universal symbol of Justice.Under the crucifix there is a representation of an abyss in the ground, a symbol of evil.The representation of the New Jerusalem is present in the background.In the lower part of the icon, there are some instruments of suffering, such as the shroud, the chalice, the nails, the hammer and the pliers.In the upper part, you can see the representation of the sun that turned red and the moon that darkened in the eclipse that accompanies the Crucifixion.The Akhtyr icon is accompanied by a riza in two-tone silvered brass of the same size, which frames and shows the painted face of the Virgin, the crucifix and the crossed hands of the Virgin. The riza, which shows reliefs that recall most of the elements of the icon, including the instruments of suffering. This precious riza constitutes a second icon, which can also be placed side by side with the painting.The Akhtyrskaya Mother of God icon is accompanied by an expert opinion, a certificate of originality and an elegant velvet box.