The artwork titled “Our Lady of Tenderness” was created by artists of the Orthodox Icons around the period of c.1170 – c.1200. This piece, measuring 55 by 42.5 cm, is a tempera painting belonging to the Novgorod school of icon painting. It is an icon that depicts the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and is part of a series dedicated to the Virgin. This revered piece is housed in the Dormition (Assumption) Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin, Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary tenderly embracing the Christ Child, a common theme in Orthodox Christian iconography representing divine love and maternal protection. Mary’s visage is solemn yet gentle, with profound, spiritually significant expressions captured through the tempera medium. The rich and restrained use of color accentuates the spiritual ambiance and reverence of the figures. The flat, gold background is typical of iconographic art, symbolizing the heavenly realm. Both figures are rendered with meticulous attention to detail, capturing the significance and sanctity attributed to them in Byzantine and Orthodox Christian traditions. The painting’s antiquity is evident from the wear and patina, which contribute to its venerable and august presence.
