The "Blessed Heaven" Icon of the Mother of God

The 'Blessed Heaven' icon is a copy of Vasnetsov’s famous altar fresco in the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv. Early 20th century, created before 1917. The background of the icon is crafted using the tsirovka (gold chasing/graffito) technique on gold. The border ornament mimics Byzantine enamel. Such Art Nouveau icons were created in the workshops of the capital cities. Workshops specializing in the 'Vasnetsov style' for churches and wealthy private clients existed in both Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Presumably, the icon could have been created in the workshops of V. P. Guryanov, M. I. Dikarev, or A. Y. Bogatenko. The condition of the icon is very good. There are minor, pinpoint retouches on the garments and the cloud.