NIKOLAOS TZAFOURIS circa 1455 Candia/Crete - 1501 (Circle of) A LARGE ICON SHOWING THE MADRE DELLA CONSOLAZIONE WITH ANGELS Veneto-Cretan, late 15th century Tempera on a cradled wood panel. Executed on a gold ground. The haloes ornately incised. The Mother of God depicted half-length wearing a blue tunic and a purple maphorion fastened at the chest with a transparent white veil draped over her hair. The orange mantle of Christ decorated with fine gold lines and the hems of the mantle of the Mother of God decorated with refined pseudo-Kufic motifs. The Mother of God holding Christ on her right arm, whilst resting her left hand lovingly on his legs, Christ holding a globe in one hand and making a sign of blessing with the other. Two angels with veiled hands appearing in the upper corners. Vertical crack restored, areas of retouching. 55 x 40 cm. The iconography of the Madre della Consolazione is of Western origin and has clearly been influenced by Italian prototypes of the 14th century. The icon's Italian title refers to the suffering of Christ, as anticipated by his mother. It has been suggested that the model was introduced to the Orthodox Christian world by the famous icon painter Nikolaos Tzafouris.
NIKOLAOS TZAFOURIS ca. 1455 Candia/Kreta - 1501 (Umkreis) GROSSE IKONE MIT DER MADRE DELLA CONSOLAZIONE MIT ENGELN Veneto-Kretisch, Ende 15. Jh. Duenne Holzplatte, rueckseitig parkettiert. Eitempera auf Kreidegrund, Goldgrund, Nimben ornamental punziert, vergoldete Ornamentierung der Gewaender. 55 x 40 cm. Bildfuellende Darstellung der leicht nach links geneigten Gottesmutter in Halbfigur. Sie haelt den Christusknaben in ihrem rechten Arm, waehrend sie ihre linke Hand liebevoll auf seine Beine gelegt hat. Aufrecht sitzend und segnend haelt Christus den Globus Cruciger. In den oberen Ecken erscheinen Engel mit verhuellten Haenden. Feine Modellierung der Inkarnate. Reiche und detailfreudige Ornamentierung der Gewaender mit Chrysographie. Vertikaler Riss rest., kleinere Retuschen.

Origin: Veneto-Kretisch, Ende 15. Jh.