Eastern Orthodox Icon of Most-Holy Theotokos, Joy of All Who Sorrow

Russia or Eastern Europe, 19th century, tempera and gilt on gesso prepared wood panel, the verso incised with script, presented in a contemporary gilt floater frame.

Panel 12 x 10 in.; frame dimensions 13 5/8 x 11 13/4 x 2 in.

Private Collection Durham, North Carolina, previously Krakow, Poland

Found in homes as well as churches, icons are sacred objects within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition that illustrate scripture and remain important visual and spiritual window of the orthodox religion. The origins of the painted icon can be seen in examples from ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome. Elements were adopted and incorporated into the hand-painted panels of the Christian Orthodox traditions that we recognize as part of Slavic iconography in Russia and other areas of Eastern Europe.

The center of this icon depicts the Mother of God standing on a round disc platform beneath her son, Christ Pantocrator. She is surrounded by depictions angels with the suffering, and other pious figures below, all beneath two banners with script. Two standing full length saints on the left and right border margins face inward.

The inscriptions on the verso, as we have come to learn, are often shop marks that detail or list what scene was commissioned, the name of the owner who may have commissioned the icon, as well as pricing. With help from a trusted source willing to help translate, the text may have been commissioned by or made for a fellow named Ivan Feodorovich.

Some images losses, mostly along the lower perimeter. Age toning,