Antique Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, painted in the 19th century and restored in the 21th, Russia, 13x11 in

Antique Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, painted in the 19th century and restored in the 21th, Russia, 13x11 in. Icon representing the Mother of God of Tikhvin, one of the most worshipped miraculous images of Russia.
According to many legends, the icon first appeared in 1383 in Novgorod and then on the left bank of the river Tikhvinca, where a church was built afterwards, dedicated to the Dormition of Our Lady. In 1658, in an old Byzantin legend, the image of Tikhvin was identified with the Hodegetria of Byzantium, that in the 14th century would have left the Byzantin capital to reappear on the Tikhvin river.
During the occupation of 1941, the icon was taken from the Tikhvin monastery and brought to Germany and, lately, to Chicago, in the United States, where it has been kept in Peter and Paul Cathedral. In 2004, the icon was brought back to Russia at the Tikhvinsky monastery.
The painting belongs to the Hodegetria type and its most relevant peculiarity is the attitude of both characters: the Mother of God points to her Son with her right hand, showing to the observer the right path, Jesus, who is depicted blessing the Virgin Mary, also with his right hand. The two figures are close, but separated. The Theotokos looks right in front of her, searching eye contact with the observer.
The inscriptions on the side of Our Lady's face represent a Greek abbreviation for the concept of "Mother of God", while the letters above the Infant mean Jesus Christ.
Painted by hand on wood and levkas with egg tempera, this icon is a faithful copy of the original, delivered with guarantee certificate and a report signed by a certified expert in a blue velvet case.
Provenance: Moscow, Russia.
Technique: egg tempera.
Materials: wood, levkas.
Era: 19th century, restored in the 21th.
Measures: 13.4x10.6 inches.