Before us is a replica of the icon of The Virgin Mary of Tikhvin painted by an unknown master in the 16th century. The style is reminiscent of the Moscow School of Iconography represented by Theophanes the Greek, Andrei Rublev and Dionysius the Black.

According to the legend, the original icon of the Virgin Mary of Tikhvin was painted by Luke, one of the authors of the canonic Gospel text. Originally the icon was kept in the Cathedral of Blachernae in Constantinople that had been built specially for the icon. In 1383 the icon disappeared from the Cathedral ‘for arrogance and falsehood, and in a miraculous way emerged in Ancient Russia. For the first time it was seen by fishermen over the river of Tikhvinka, hence the name Of Tikhvin.

The icon painter used ocher-yellow and brown colors: those were the most popular paints in the Ancient Russia as they were cheap and affordable. Blue and green colors were considered expensive and such paints were most often used to paint the mantle over the gown of the Virgin Mary. The icon painter was apparently short of materials; therefore, he only outlined the shawl with a narrow blue-and-green band. This color accentuates the face of the Virgin Mary.

The background and the margins of the icon are covered with a wrought metal casting with a floral ornament. The wrought metal casting is thin silver or gold plates stamped with various ornaments and patterns.

It is unknown when the icon arrived at the Radishchev Museum. It was recorded in the arrivals register in 1953, however with no indication of the origin. Most probably the icon was transferred to the museum much earlier: in 1920s - 1930s alongside with items from destroyed cathedrals of the Saratov Region. The Virgin Mary of Tikhvin is one of the oldest icons in the museum collection.