Unknown Artist, Moscow, Russia
, Russian, fl. first half 16th century
Title
The Virgin's Protection, or StoleDatec.1500-1550
MediumTempera on panel
Dimensions
36 x 31.5 cm
Credit LinePurchased, 1968
Object numberNGI.1846
Label TextThis icon combines two legends about Andreas, a church server and innocent in Constantinople. He was honoured with a vision of the Virgin at the Church of the Blachernae, where she was surrounded by saints and holding her protective stole (Pokrov). In Hagia Sophia, Andreas sought the Virgin’s assistance in singing a hymn before the emperor and empress at the Christmas Eve service, and is shown performing the new one he was taught. The setting here is, however, a domed Russian church. These stories offered reassurance of divine protection in later troubled times.