Quadripartite antique icon, Russia, mid-19th century

Quadripartite antique icon, Russia, mid-19th century. Antique icon painted in Northen Russia in the mid-19th century on a treated wood board of 53x44.5 cm. Quadripartite icon representing Our Lady of Smolensk, the Burning Bush, Saint George with the Dragon and Our Lady of the Sign.
The Smolensk icon of the Mother of God is an Hodegetria version of the Theotokos where the Virgin is painted facing out at the viewer, as her child does, but she has her head slightly sloped towards Jesus. Her veil is open on the front, revealing the chiton. The Mother of God holds her Son with her left arm, while showing him with her right hand to the viewer, inviting to worship. The Virgin of Smolensk is a miraculous icon, brought to Constantinople from Jerusalem in 1046 and then to Smolensk in the 12th century from the prince of Cernigov. The icon protected the Russian army several times against different enemies.
The Unburnt Bush icon of the Mother of God represents a Marian interpretation of the miracle of the burning bush witnessed by Moses in the Old Testament. The bush becomes a metaphor and a prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus. The bush is Mary, tied to the earth, but touched by the flames of the light and the divine grace, which don't wear out and, even if unbearables, don't annihilate her, but leave her intact.
The icon of Saint George fighting the Dragon represents a legend originated after de Saint's death. According to it, a monster was living in a pond near Silene and, in order to satisfy its appetite, the villagers were sacrificing sheeps and, after that, young people chossen randomly. But on day, it was the king's daughter turn and in that very moment Saint George appeared and heroically killed the creature. After that, all the citizens were ready to be baptised.
Our Lady of the Sign depicts the Theotokos praying, her hands raised, the image of the Child Jesus depicted within a round aureole upon her breast. This representation of the Theotokos is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel".
This quadripartite icon is delivered with export documents and an expertise of the Russian Cultural Heritage.