Annunciation Ustyuzhskoe
Iconography: Annunciation of the Most Holy Virgin
Date: XII century. 1130-1140s
Iconographic school/art center: Novgorod school
Origin: From the St. George Cathedral of the St. George monastery in Novgorod from where this and other icons were removed by Ivan the Terrible to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
Material: Wood, tempera
Dimensions: height 238 cm, width 168 cm
The Mother of God is portrayed in a frontal pose, with her head slightly inclined to the right and Christ Emmanuel in Her womb. Christ is represented in an erect frontal pose; he sits solemnly, with his right hand raised in blessing and his left stretched aside (the palm is missing). The Mother of God appears to be blessing Him with Her right hand, the fingers are almost touching the Child’s shoulder and the nimbus. With Her right hand she holds a red skein. To Her left stands the Archangel Gabriel, turned to the Virgin Mary and blessing Her. With his left hand he holds the measuring rod. Up in the center, in a blue semi-circle of heaven with golden stars, is the Ancient of Days seated on a red throne, with red cherubs at the foot of the throne, and slightly upward, to the left and right, red seraphim with golden rhipidia. The Ancient of Days is enclosed by a blue halo. With his left hand he holds a scroll; his right hand is raised in a benedictory gesture, emitting a blue ray towards the Theotokos.
Inv. № 25539. © The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Bibliography:
Государственная Третьяковская Галерея. Каталог собрания. Древнерусское искусство X — начала XV века. Том I. № 7.
General view