Russian school of the late 19th century

Russian school of the late 19th century.
"Virgin and Child".
Tempera on panel.
Oklad of silver-plated brass.
Measurements: 36 x 30 cm; 52 x 52 x 5 cm.

The present icon represents the Mother of God half-length, with her head slightly inclined, holding the Child Jesus in her left arm. Only the flesh tones are visible, since an oklad covers a large part of the surface, reproducing the painting underneath with embossing. The tradition of decorating the icons with oklad appears after the mandate of the Most Holy Ruling Synod of 1722, when it was forbidden to hang metal crosses on the icons and to leave offerings in the form of coins, since this tradition had pagan roots. This applied decoration is found almost everywhere in the world, but it is more widespread in Central and Eastern Europe. And in the Orthodox tradition, the manufacture of these items became a separate kind of art and craftsmanship: many travelers noted with admiration in their diaries the luxury of Ukrainian and Russian shrines. The material for specialized craftsmen were noble metals, brass, copper and even tin. Oklads have not only aesthetic, but also practical purpose. Icons painted on wood suffer from soot from candles, humidity, temperature fluctuations and are continually touched by parishioners. Likewise, the paint darkens, mars, cracks and rubs off. The oklad or "curling", another term used, protects the icons from the damaging effects, prolonging their useful life.