The artwork titled “Virgin Galaktotropoussa” was created by the Orthodox Icons artists around the year 1450. This piece belongs to the Late Byzantine/Palaeologan Renaissance art movement, which spanned from circa 1261 to 1453. The genre of the artwork is an icon, and it is part of the series depicting the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Presently, the artwork is housed in the Byzantine and Christian Museum located in Athens, Greece.
The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary in a serene and contemplative pose, holding and tenderly nursing the infant Jesus. The icon is characterized by the rich, warm tones of gold and deep red, typical of Byzantine art, and it features intricate detailing on the garments and halos. Mary’s gentle expression and the gentle touch with which she cradles Jesus embody the tender relationship between mother and child. The background of the icon is adorned in gold leaf, giving the piece a divine and ethereal quality. The meticulous craftsmanship and spiritual significance of the icon reflect the profound reverence for the Virgin Mary in Orthodox Christian tradition.
