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blue, child, Christ, icon, iconography, Jesus, mother's love, oil, painting, red, st. Luke, virgin and child, virgin and child icon, Virgin Mary, Vladimir Theotokos, yellow orche
The pose of the Virgin and the Christ Child in this icon is a traditional pose said to have been written first by St. Luke. Over the centuries many iconographers have set their hands and hearts to writing this icon. Perhaps the most famous copy of this icon is the Vladimir Theotokos.
The one pictured below is one of my many attempts to capture the icon’s tenderness of mother-child love. Mary’s gaze is to the viewer’s left as if she knows of the coming sorrow and she is deep in reflection. Although pictured as a child in this icon, Christ looks directly at the viewer as if saying “Be not afraid I have overcome the world.”
While writing this icon I was made deeply aware that not all children are able to have the love of their mothers. Thus this icon is dedicated to those individuals. Christ’s love is endless – steadfast and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
The technique for this icon was simple. After the image was transferred to the panel an under-painting of yellow ochre was applied. The ochre gives the overall effect of a golden hue. Contrasting the golden yellow are the reds and blues. A simple ochre border was worked over the top of the wide blue border. A unifying crimson red was worked throughout the icon reminding us of the unity Christ blood brings to those who believe and God. The size of this icon is small measuring only 5X7 inches.
Sabicons 