Artwork

Fecioara cu Pruncul (Hodighitria)

Fecioara cu Pruncul (Hodighitria), by Unknown, 1850
Fecioara cu Pruncul (Hodighitria), by Unknown, 1850

Fecioara cu Pruncul (Hodighitria) is a drawing by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Transylvanian History.

About this work

Overview

Fecioara cu Pruncul (Hodighitria) is a wooden panel artwork featuring a reverse side with distinctive markings and an attached paper label. The piece exhibits signs of wear and brush marks on its wooden surface, with a rope loop at the top.

Subject & Meaning

The subject of the artwork's visible reverse side is not directly related to its title, which translates to 'The Virgin with the Child' (Hodighitria, a type of Byzantine icon). The attached label with '*Receta cu cris*' (possibly a recipe or note) and '*M.40*' suggests a secondary, potentially mundane use or cataloging.

Technique & Style

The wooden panel shows evidence of brush marks, indicating it was once painted, likely on the other side. The style of the brushwork and the overall construction suggest traditional craftsmanship, though the specific artistic style (e.g., folk, religious) of the painted side (if it exists or is described elsewhere) is not detailed here.

History & Provenance

Limited provenance information is provided. The label '*M.40*' may imply cataloging within a collection, potentially linked to the mentioned 'Museum of Ethnography', though this is speculative without further context.

Context

The mixture of religious title implication and mundane label use ('*Receta cu cris*') on a potentially religious artifact suggests a complex history, possibly transitioning from a sacred to a more secular or utility item within a household or collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known