Collection Name : Holy Metropolis of Ydra, Spetses and Egina
Type : Icon
Year : Second- half of the 18c. AD
Place : Idra
Τechnique : Egg tempera on wood
Dimension : 53,3 x 32,6 εκ
Current Place : Saint Athanasios church, Gourmadas
Description : In rock plateau, centrally located, Virgin Mary is kneeling in front of the cave that opens in a pointed rocky cluster. She is depicted wearing a red maphorion that opens forward and falls with rich folds, and a bluish tunic with dark striations. Her hands are crossed on her chest. In the cave, the naked Christ Child is lying in a marble urn onto white shroud. The newborn is warmed by the breath from the ox and the donkey that are above him. In symmetrical arrangement in the crackles of the rocks, secondary episodes of the Nativity are presented. In the upper left corner of the icon, a host of angels clad with colorful garments with hands covered are depicted, while the latter in -depth looks at the star that cast rays to the infant. The three Wise men, two white and one black, representing the continents and wearing richly garments and gold crowns, are depicted on the right side of a steep rock, offering their honors and valuable items to His grace. On the left side of the panel on the top of a hill, an angel is espoused a small shepherd who listens amazing the great message, having left his flock beyond. On level of the icon and in the middle, Joseph seated on a rock talking, pensive, with two shepherds, who wears an elderly and the shepherd who already knows the happy event. High spreads in red majuscules the inscription: “THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST.”
