The Birth of the Virgin, Russian icon, early 19th century

The Nativity of the Virgin,
Russian work from the early 19th century; features a fine nielloed silver *riza* (metal cover), the Saratov city hallmark, the date 1834, and the "84" silver purity mark.
This beautiful depiction of the Nativity of the Virgin was produced in the workshops of Saratov in the early 19th century; it is a tempera-on-panel painting created in one of the many monasteries along the Volga.
Saratov is an industrial city founded around 1580, though it may have a Hellenic past—some identify it with the ancient city of Gelonus, said to have been destroyed by Darius in 512 BC.
An important trading hub on the Volga, it was a key stop on both river and overland routes, dealing in grain, timber, fish, and salt. Significant German settlements, attracted by Catherine II, further enriched the region.
Situated between Kazan—a major cultural and religious center—and the Black Sea, the area saw the flourishing of numerous monasteries and icon workshops.
16 x 12.5 cm; thickness 2.7 cm.