Medallion: Virgin Blachernitissa, Bust

Work Number: 580254
Title: Medallion: Virgin Blachernitissa, Bust
Approximate date: 13th c
Description: Suspended by a chain composed of three links is a medallion adorned with an image of the Virgin Blachernitissa carved in low relief. Here, both the Theotokos and the Christ Child are rendered as busts. The Theotokos holds the orans pose - arms outstretched at shoulder height in a gesture of prayer. The Christ Child's hand gestures a now difficult to interpret, however, in other images of the same iconographic type, he is shown with his hands out to either side as Christ Emmanuel. The medallion is set within a metal mount that contains a Greek inscription and an ornamental border that alternates between sharp triangular motifs and semi-circles.
Medium: Metal
Language: Greek
Subject: Virgin Blachernitissa
Provenance: Gallery, case 5