Russian Icon early 19th century

Russian Icon early 19th century
"Four Virgins".
Tempera on wood.
It shows old restorations, crackles and restorations.
A tenon is missing.
Measurements: 70,5 x 60 x 3 cm.
Russian icon dedicated to the Virgin, being represented in four of its invocations: as Dolorosa and Hodigitria Virgin, together with two variants of this last one in which the Child Jesus unfolds a scroll written in Cyrillic. Stylistically, the extreme refinement achieved by Russian icons can be seen, which in the 19th century continued to respect certain orthodox precepts, but the figures became more stylised and their features softened. Vivid pigments are used for the symbolic use of colour, and a sinuous line with a synthetic stroke lengthens the canons. This is a work of quality, in which the sumptuous clothing, the flesh tones and the modelling receive a careful formal and chromatic treatment.
One of the best known models in Marian iconology is that of the Virgin Hodigitria, or "she who shows the way". This Greek icon follows this model, as can be seen in the fine-fingered right hand pointing to the Child and showing it to the viewer.