The diptych “Sophia, Wisdom of God. The Unsleeping Eye” originally belonged to the Solvychegodsk Annunciation Cathedral. Sophia, Wisdom of God, personifies the wisdom and greatness of God as the Creator.

In the center of the composition, there is Sophia, enthroned and depicted as an angel. The Virgin Mary and John stand before her in the same way as they are usually depicted standing before Jesus. Sophia is symbolically transformed into the image of the blessing Christ Who is depicted above her.

Still above, at the very top of the composition, there is the depiction of the altar as a symbol of the divine throne prepared for the second coming of Jesus. It is surrounded by angels who hover above the stars in heavenly spheres. This complicated symbolic composition began to spread in the 14th century, and by the 16th century, it became enormously popular.

The right panel of the diptych features a rare composition “The Unsleeping Eye” which developed quite late in the history of Christian art. This iconographic version was based on Old Testament prophecies. It became widespread in 14th-century Byzantine and Russian art.

The center of the composition depicts the youthful Christ reclining on a bed, with His head propped on His right hand. To His right is the Virgin Mary holding a scroll, and to His left is an angel holding the instruments of the Passion with his hands covered with a cloth. The scene is set in a paradise-like garden with many birds. The birds sit on the branches of trees and among the tall grass.

Both compositions are united by the themes of atoning sacrifice and the future judgment which were designed by God when creating the world. The diptych “Sophia, Wisdom of God” is characterized by an exquisite manner of carving, expressive and harmonious drawing. The artist detailed the folds of vestments and decorated the halos.

The smooth silhouette lines of the slender figures are similar to those depicted in the best iconographic works. This indicates that the diptych was custom-made by a highly skilled carver in a Moscow workshop or by a craftsman who came to the regional art center from Moscow.