The artwork titled “Theotokos of Tenderness of Staraya Russa,” created by an unknown artist known under the collective attribution “Orthodox Icons,” dates from approximately 1200 to 1225. The piece belongs to the Middle Byzantine art movement, specifically within the Novgorod school of icon painting. This icon, part of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God series, is housed in the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork is an exemplary icon portraying the Virgin Mary, tenderly clasping the Christ Child. Characterized by its solemn and compassionate depiction, the icon exhibits the stylistic traits of Middle Byzantine art, notably through its delicate rendering of facial expressions and the use of rich, warm hues. The figures are depicted with elongated features and large, soulful eyes, which are hallmarks of Byzantine iconography. The Virgin Mary is shown with a deep red mantle, embodying both her purity and her station as the Mother of God, while the Christ Child is illustrated with penetrating eyes, symbolizing wisdom and divinity. The background, with its aged and weathered appearance, lends an aura of antiquity and reverence, emphasizing the icon’s historical and spiritual significance.
