Item 52
Odigitriya Mother of God
19th century
Egg tempera, gold leaf on wood panel
14” x 12”
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection

Here Mary, the Mother of God, holds the infant Christ in Her left arm and gestures towards Him with Her right hand and arm. It is this gesturing motion from which the title of this icon is derived. In Greek, the word “Hodigitria” means “way-shower.” And thus in this composition, Mary is the one who shows the viewer of this icon “the way” to salvation, Her son Christ Jesus. Generally speaking, the term “Odigitriya” is used as a generic label for icons of Mary gesturing towards the infant Christ, rather than to indicate a specific “type” of icon. In this example, the title “Odigitriya” is written in gilded raised gesso above the right shoulder of the Virgin. Stylistically this icon conforms to a refined 16th century style. The gilded raised relief border and haloes were not unknown on earlier icons, but would not be considered a common feature.