0259 Virgin Of Akhtyr

Russian.
18th 28x23x2 cms

This icon shows he Virgin praying for Her Son as He is crucified on The Cross.

The original presented itself in 1739 when a priest, Daniil Vasiliev, found it lying in a meadow whilst scything grass. This icon, dating from late 18th cent. is one of the earliest examples of the subject. The bowed board has two shponkii channels and the carpenter’s scrafitti on the reverse. It has a double kovcheg. The iconographer living in deepest rural Russia shows his ignorance of towns by showing Jerusalem as having wooden walls. In a position typical  of Russian iconography, Christ is shown hanging on the Cross with straight arms and His feet supported by a small platform.