Description in Icons, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2004, cat. no. 273:
The Mother of God with the Infant Saviour, Joseph, Saints John the Baptist and Maria of Egypt
Late 19th century
NMI 132

Wood: Linden (Tilia sp.), egg tempera
on canvas. Panel made of two boards
with two pairs of splines, one inlaid
from opposite sides and the other on
battens.

Inscriptions a t.: A) Paper label with
hand-written text in black ink: 140 de
large / 4 coul. ; B) Ink stamp of the
Soviet State Export Committee

PROVENANCE: Olof Aschberg;
Gift of O.Aschberg 1933
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Kjellin 1933, no 132; Kjellin
1956, p 246; Rothemund 1966, p 302
CONSERVATION: Restored prior to entering
NM: outer edges repainted, scattered
retouches; NM 1949: conservation for
flak ing and blisters. Crack in the bottom
right-hand corner of the panel; uneven
yellowish varnish.

The iconography and style, in par -
ticular the depiction of the Mother
of God, are not traditional, due partly
to western influence. The iconography
bears some resemblance to the Mother
of God “of Three Joys”.1 The nature
of the object which the child is holding
in his right hand is unclear, but it may
possibly be a vial of oil. Rothemund
considers this to be the oldest remain -
ing icon of the Holy Family iconography.
He dates it to the 17th century.
1 Melnick 1998, vol. 1, fig. 50.
[slut]