O icoana repictată din colecţiile Muzeului Naţional de Artă al României
Remade icon from the collections of the National Museum of Art of Romania

Summary/Abstract: In the collections of the National Museum of Art of Romania, among the icons of late origin, there is a collection of works relating to the iconography of the Grieving Mother of God. Large and small icons, made on wood and glass, reflect the sad story in the history of mankind – the drama of the crucifixion. One of the icons, covered with a magnificent riza, is an iconographic composition known as the Mother of God of Akhtyrka. In the foreground there is a schematic representation of Mount Golgotha with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Behind Golgotha there is the image of the Virgin, her hands are joined in prayer, and her eyes are fixed on the viewer. When the riza was removed, several interventions in the pictorial image were revealed on the icon, in order the open spaces of the silver cover coincide with the corresponding parts of the image. This icon, although not among the most valuable in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania, raises a number of topics that deserve discussion. So, the article discusses the causes of the distortion of the original and who is responsible for it. Presenting samples of the original and remade icon, the authors speculates whether their meet on the same wooden base hides certain mutual influences. There is also reminded about the sources of inspiration underlying the creation of the image of the Grieving Mother of God. In addition, some historical events and characters indirectly associated with these icons are highlighted. Mention is made of the veneration of the icons considered here in the places where they were recovered, as well as of the popularity of copies of these images far from the places of their recovery. Of particular interest is the silver riza with beautiful engraved patterns and inscriptions about engravers and fineness of the metal.

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