The artwork titled “Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus,” attributed to “Orthodox Icons,” dates to approximately 550 AD and belongs to the Early Byzantine art movement, which spanned from circa 330 to 750 AD. Designated as an icon genre, it is part of the “Virgin Mary, Mother of God” series and is currently housed in the Museum of Western and Oriental Art (Khanenko Museum) located in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary tenderly holding the Infant Jesus. The figures are rendered in a stylized manner characteristic of Byzantine icons. Visible signs of aging lend a patina of venerable antiquity, with the cracked surface of the paint suggesting the passage of many centuries. Mary’s solemn expression and the gentle, yet firm, manner in which she cradles the Infant Jesus highlight the deep spiritual and maternal connections cherished in Christian iconography. The golden halos surrounding their heads signify their holy status, illuminated against the darker, more subdued background. Despite the signs of wear and damage, the piece’s sacred essence endures profoundly.