Lot 23
23
AN UNUSUAL VARIATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF THE 'SWEET KISS'
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AN UNUSUAL VARIATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF THE 'SWEET KISS'

Details
AN UNUSUAL VARIATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF THE 'SWEET KISS'
CRETAN, CIRCA 1500
The Mother of God depicted half-length, with elongated, noble features, tenderly holding the Child with both her hands, looking away from the viewer, Christ touching his cheek to the face of his Mother, holding the hem of her maphorion in a playful manner and caressing her chin, wrapped in two himatia, one red and the other green with dense gold highlights, the punched haloes decorated with scrolls, against a brilliant gold background
18¼ x 13½ in. (46.25 x 34.25 cm)
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The iconography of the Christ Child with a naked shoulder is highly unusual. In fact, it has not been encountered on other known Byzantine or Cretan depictions of the subject of the Mother of God holding Christ. This feature might be related to Isaiah's verse 9:6: ...unto us a son is given, the government shall be upon his shoulder... Also, it could have been the result of a Cistercian theological influence, as this order has a prayer dedicated to the shoulder of Christ on which the Cross was carried.

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