Overview
This is a modern devotional icon painted in the Byzantine tradition, depicting the Virgin Mary as the 'Hodegetria' or 'She who shows the Way.' It features a gilded background and traditional Greek…
1Identify
Preliminary identification
Contemporary Byzantine-Style Icon of the Madonna and Child
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Story
For over 1,500 years, the visual language of the icon has remained remarkably consistent, surviving the fall of empires and the iconoclast movements of the Middle Ages.
Maker / Origin
Modern iconographers often view their work as a form of 'writing' rather than painting, frequently remaining anonymous to emphasize the divine subject over the artist's ego.
Condition & Value
The piece shows intentional 'distressing' and simulated age, including artificial wear to the edges and the gilded surface to give it a venerable appearance. Value for contemporary icons is driven by whether they are entirely hand-painted in egg tempera or are high-quality serigraphs (prints) with hand-painted highlights.
Research
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