Mother of Cosolation, circle of Nikolaos Tzafouris (1455-1501)

Circle NIKOLAOS TZAFOURIS
(Candia 1455 - Crete 1501)
Important icon
" MOTHER OF CONSOLATION"
Crete, 16th century
Egg tempera on a gold background
Walnut wood panel.
Measures cm. 31 x 25

On an almost completely painted gold background, the Mother of Consolation is depicted half-length. The Virgin with her head slightly lowered towards her Son and her gaze turned towards the spectator, holds the infant Christ in her right arm while she gently caresses his knee with her left hand. Little Jesus raises his right hand in a gesture of blessing and holds a parchment in his left hand.
The image of Our Lady of Consolation reappears in Cretan iconography towards the end of the 15th century, becoming popular until the 17th century.
The original cult dates back to the early eighth century in the Greek monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos with the name of Paramythia or "Madonna del Conforto" and is taken up by Cretan painting and painted widely from 1490 to 1520 in the Ionian islands; it is then exported to Venice and Rome where a 16th century church is dedicated to her, and finally to Sicily.
The Byzantine art evidently shows the Venetian influence, and the Tuscan '400.
In fact, the transparent veil under the Madonna's maphorion (instead of the oriental hood) and the way in which the Blessed Mother's robe is fastened with a clasp on the chest, derive from Italian art. Finally, the elegant punching of the halos shows this influence even more precisely.
The Icon is in an excellent state of conservation without restoration and repainting with a pleasant wear of the gilding which shows the underlying preparation bole.
The juxtaposition of the splendid vivid colors is extraordinary, with the bright orange of the Child's garment which detaches from the purplish red mantle of the Virgin.
The author demonstrates great skill in the rendering of the flesh tones with the blends applied perfectly.
In addition to constituting an important historical and artistic document of the link between Eastern and Western Christianity, it is an extremely pleasant work that radiates a fascinating golden light with an almost magical effect.