The miracle of the icon of “Our Lady of the Sign” (A battle between the Novgorodians and the Suzdalians)

Iconography:  The miracle of the icon of “Our Lady of the Sign” (A battle between the Novgorodians and the Suzdalians)

Date: XV century. The middle of the 15th c.

Iconographic school/art center:  Novgorod school

Material: Wood, tempera

Dimensions:  height 133 cm, width 90 cm

The top row shows the removal of the icon of Our Lady of the Sign from the Church of the Savior at Ilyin street on the bridge across the river Volkhov to the St. Sophia Cathedral. The procession is led by St. John, the Archbishop of Novgorod, dressed in white vestments with crosses. In the central part of the icon is the scene of negotiations between ambassadors. As the Suzdalians shoot the defenders of Novgord, one arrow hits the miraculous icon hanging on the city wall. The lower row depicts the victory of the Novgorodians – their army rides out of the tower gates led by Sts. George, Boris and Gleb.

Inv. № .14454. © The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Bibliography: Иконопись из собрания Третьяковской галереи. М., 2008. С. 50.

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