Synaxis of Our Lady

In the center of the icon, against dark-green hills, is the figure of the Mother of God seated on a light-coral throne with white curtains and a steeply bent asymmetrical throne back decorated with pearls. The Mother of God holds an icon of Christ Emmanuel in a two-colored eight-pointed “glory”. Against a black cave, to the right of the Mother of God, is the manger with the wrapped Infant, with the ox and ass inclining over it. To the left, three magi with gifts in boxes of different shape approach the throne. The oldest of them, with hands covered with a red cloak, is handing the gift box. The middle magus is pointing with his right hand to the “star” (missing), with his left he holds the gifts. The youngest magus also holds gifts in his left hand. Below, on either side of a skewed throne pedestal, are half-naked “shaggy” figures symbolizing, according to Christmas stichir, the Earth and the Wilderness. The Wilderness holds the manger, while the Earth holds the cave in her right hand, and the blossoming branch with her right. Below stands a group of three men in white clothes, a young reader with a book and a dancing young man in short clothes. Above the hills, to the left, are three angels; the first angel uplifts hands, while others are depicted with covered hands. To the right are the shepherds with staffs in the left hands. The middle shepherd covers his eyes with his right hands, others stand with uplifted hands. In the upper part of the icon are the small half-figures of St. Nicholas and St. Paraskeva in a red omophorion with a cross.

Inv. № 14906. © The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

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  General view