Hodegetria in Greek means showing the way, a guide. Our Lady Hodegetria is portrayed with the baby Jesus in her arms. He is blessing those who look at the icon with his right hand, and usually holding a scroll or a book in his left.
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Our Lady Hodegetria
Creation period
1502–1503
Dimensions
141,2x105,7 cm
Technique
Wood, tempera
Collection
Exhibition
42
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Dionysius and the workshop
Our Lady Hodegetria
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According to legends, it was the Apostle Luke, who painted the first icon of the Mother of God during her earthly life. The image created by the evangelist was kept in Constantinople until the 15th century. This representation of Our Lady became one of the most common in Byzantium and Ancient Russia, which adopted Byzantine icon-painting traditions.
Hodegetria was worshipped as the patroness of the state and the army, and therefore the image was copied many times. This version of Hodegetria was created in Dionysius workshop in 1502-1503. Dionysius was a leading representative of the Moscow icon painting school at the turn of the 15th — 16th centuries. He is considered one of the best masters of Russia along with Theophanes the Greek and Andrey Rublev.
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At the end of his life, Dionysius with his sons Theodosius and Vladimir frescoed the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Ferapontov monastery near Vologda. The icon of Our Lady Hodegetria became a part of the iconostasis created by them for the same cathedral.
Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin of the Ferapontov Monastery. Built in 1490
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The icon was in the local, i.e. the lowest row of the iconostasis, to the left of the Royal gates — the main part of the altar partition in Orthodox churches. All the picturesque decoration of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin glorified majesty and mercy of the Mother of God. And Hodegetria was an important image of this ensemble, which stood out for its elegant and delicate painting.
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The Virgin on the throne. Fresco of the altar apse. 1502. Cathedral of the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Ferapontov monastery
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The icon painters enlarged the figure of the baby, giving it elongated adult proportions. He sits in the arms of the Virgin, as if on a throne. There is a calm and masterful expression on his face that is not characteristic of compositions with the Mother of God, in which he was usually portrayed as timid and humble. A wide blessing gesture complements the image — not of a child, but of a king, Heavenly Lord.
Virgin Mary also appears in a solemn, regal guise. In the evangelic tradition, the Mother of God was associated with sunlight: the luminary of an inextinguishable light, the brilliant image of resurrection. The icon painters conveyed this meaning via vestments decorated with a gold border, precious stones and pearls.
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State Russian Museum
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Our Lady Hodegetria
Creation period
1502–1503
Dimensions
141,2x105,7 cm
Technique
Wood, tempera
Collection
Exhibition
42
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