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19th century.
Wood, lewkas, tempera.
Size: 31x26x2,8 cm.
High quality, school painting, painted in the17th century traditions. In good condition. Faces are restored.
The scene of the Virgin of the Burning Bush dates from the vision of the prophet Moses. On the Hill of Horeb, Moses saw a burning prickly bush, unconsumed by fire (the burning bush), described in the Book of Exo¬dus, Chapter 3. Orthodox tradi¬tion (Saint Grigory Nissky, blessed Theodorite) interprets this vision as a symbolic fore¬telling of the Virgin, who con¬tained in herself, without being burned, the fiery nature of Her Son, God.
The Virgin is depicted in the center of the eight-pointed star and on her breast is Jesus Christ in clerical robes as the "Great High Priest, who had passed through the heavens" (Epistle to the Hebrews, 4.14). In the Vir¬gin's hands, Christ is portrayed as the Incarnated God-Child. In the right hand of the Virgin is a ladder, also an Old Testament attribute of the Virgin (Genesis 28.12 - 22).
The eight-pointed star is created from two four-pointed stars. In the rays of the first star angels are portrayed with Old Testa¬ment symbols foretelling of the Virgin: a cherub with angels, an angel with tongs, an angel with an incense chest, and an angel with the Infant Emmanuel.
Overall, the icon is one of those dealing with theological specu¬lation on the meaning and im¬portance of the Virgin in the salvation of humanity. The day of celebration for the icon "The Burning Bush" is Sep¬tember 4, the day in memory of the Saint and Prophet Moses. Particular worship of this kind of icon in the Russian church began in the 1680s. Popularly, the icon is considered a protector from fire.
The icon could be recommended for interior.
Price: SOLD
