Russian Icon Depicting Madonna and Child

Two faces pressed cheek to cheek, in a dark frame with a gold ground.

A Russian icon of the Madonna and Child, painted on wood in the 19th century. Russian Orthodox households commonly kept icons like this for private prayer. The Virgin’s head tilts toward the child, who rests against her face, and a red-orange halo circles them both. She wears dark robes with red edging, and the child is dressed in green. Small lettered inscriptions sit in the gold ground near the top. The thick black border shows chips and wear.

About twelve inches high. Quiet, tender and easy to place.