Russian icon from the late 18th century.

Russian icon from the late 18th century.
"Madonna of Pokrov."
Tempera and gold leaf on panel.
It has crackles and old touches.
Measurements: 89 x 69 x 4 cm.
Russian icon of great pictorial quality, extreme delicacy in the line and in the combination of pigments. It is dedicated to the Virgin
del Pokrov.. Two miracles are represented that occurred in the Blacherna church of Constantinople at different times, but which are celebrated on the same day in the liturgical calendar (October 1). Above, the vision of Andrew the Fool for Christ (10th century), towards which the fervor of his disciple Saint Epiphanius directs. In the center of the lower scene is Saint Roman the Melodist (6th century) holding the hymn scroll (kontakion); The Emperor Justinian and some dignitaries attend the scene.
“The Virgin of Pokrov” is one of the iconography of the Russian Orthodox Church, although it describes events that occurred in Constantinople around the year 910. A priori the story was taken from the biography of Andrew of Constantinople, who together with his disciple Epiphanius, They saw the Mother of God flying over the Church of Santa María de las Blanquernas, covering the believers with her omophorium, a symbol of protection. On several occasions the story was modified, the last being the version of Bishop Demetrius of Rostov, composed towards the end of the 17th century, and which stated that among those who saw the miracle were John the Baptist, John the Apostle, Andrew of Constantinople, and King Leo the Wise. The meaning of this miracle is that the Mother of God protected the city of Constantinople against the Muslim invasion.
The prototype of the icon of the protection of the Mother of God, or, in Russian, of Pokrov, was developed around the 14th century, although it would have more impact in later centuries. There are two main typologies of the representation of this scene. One, the oldest, belongs to the Novgorod school. Another, the one in front of us, was developed in the Rostov and Suzdal school, and was finally implemented in the Moscow school. This last typology is distinguished by the Mother of God represented in the central register, in front of the church. The omophorium, or “pokrov,” with which she protects the believers, is held in both of her hands, instead of being held by the two angels, as would be represented by the Novgorod painters. Apart from the apostles, different martyrs, and Andrew of Constantinople, in the lower central register, just below the Virgin, there is a character from the Rostov school, Romano el Méloda, the author of several songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary. . It should be noted that on both sides of the scene we see Saint Alexius of Rome, or Saint Alexius the beggar, and the martyr Anisia of Thessaloniki.