From the 14th century Rus and Bysantian art was known for icons with compositions based on texts of sacramental chanting in honor of the Holy Mother. Among such icons is the Stabat Mater also called the King of Kings. It was based on the text of the 44th psalm of the Holy Scripture.

Jesus Christ residing on the Throne is shown as the Heavenly King and The Great Hierarch. He is depicted on the top icon plating with a wide ribbon – an omophorion and headwear - a miter. On his right hand is the Holy Mother wearing royal clothes. She has a crown on her head and wings behind her back. Images of Jesus Christ and the Holy Mother as kings of piece indirectly praised tsar’s absolutism. That is why the Stabat Mater subject was popular in Rus art of the 16th-17th centuries. Wearing hermit clothes and the crown of martyrdom is John the Precursor who predicted Christ’s glory.

At the top part of the icon God the Father, First Person of the Trinity, is depicted. He does not wear a chiton and himation - traditional clothes of ancient saints, but is dressed in clothes, which were worn by Russian tsars and lords. It is a red shirt with goldwork and a kind of cloak usually worn over the jupe. The cloak is additionally ornamented with a short shoulder mantle. Shoulder mantles used as ceremonial dress were usually embroidered with patterns on religious themes and precious stones.

The scale of colours of the icon has an unusual large amount of dark colours with olive and brown shades. Clothes of Jesus Christ and God the Father are even painted with black. At the same time, the icon is ornamented with gold while the sky with fleecy clouds is painted with pink-and-white colours.