A RARE EMPRESS ALEXANDRA FEODOROVNA PRESENTATION ICON OF THE SERAFIMO-PONETAEVSKAYA SIGN MOTHER OF

A RARE EMPRESS ALEXANDRA FEODOROVNA PRESENTATION ICON OF THE SERAFIMO-PONETAEVSKAYA SIGN MOTHER OF GOD, 1913. Here the Mother of God is depicted with beaded veil, hands held upward in prayer and with Christ Immanuel on her chest.  The verso of icon presently with washed-out inscription and stamp, however lot is accompanied with photograph of verso while with Bowater Gallery London circa 1970 which depicts the verso prior to the later water impairment and clearly displays an inscription in the hand of the Empress written in both Russian and English. In Russian, “We have no other hope aside from you, O most-pure Virgin. You are our help; we hope in you and we praise you, for we are your servants, let us not be ashamed." This being a variant quote of the kontakion, tone 6, from the Canon to the Most Holy Mother of God.   And in English it is inscribed, “God bless and Strengthen console and help you Xmas 1913”. And further inscribed “Alexandra.” Additionally, the icon exhibits a stamp which reads, “This icon was consecrated before the Wonderworking icon of the "Sign" Most Holy Mother of God in the Seraphimo-Ponatayev Monastery." 3.5 inches x 3 inches (9 x 7.8 cm).

Provenance:

Likely Colonel Dmitrii Nikolaivich Loman, Christmas 1913, presumably a gift from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. With Bowater Gallery, London, where acquired by Mrs. Harold Leather of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 1970. Thence by descent to her son, Sir Edwin Leather (1919-2005) former Governor of Bermuda, and acquired by the present owner from the estate of Sir Edwin Leather.

It is of course well documented that the Empress frequently presented this particular iconographic image and this particular size exhibiting such a backstamp to friends, and to those she wished to impart a special blessing. The Mother of God of the Sign icon known as the Serafimo-Ponetaevskaya was imbued with particular significance for Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna. As the last icon of this iconographic type to be declared miracle-working in Russia (1885), it became for the Imperial couple a symbol of Holy Rus reborn and triumphant in the modern age, and a direct link to the miraculous powers and protection of Saint Serafim of Sarov, to whom the Empress Alexandra was especially drawn. When the couple attended the celebrations marking the canonization of the Nizhnii Novgorod saint in 1903, the Ponetaevskaya icon was one of three venerated for their connection to Serafim’s life and work. The Empress was given a copy to mark the occasion and this icon accompanied her until her final days and death in Ekaterinburg in 1918, other smaller examples, such as the offered lot, were also found amongst the remaining personal items collected after the assassination of the Imperial Family.