Madonna Avvocata ~ Merciful Intercession

This icon portrays Virgin Mary as a mediator and intercessor. It was created by using the image transfer technique on noble wood with touches of acrylic and watercolour paint. With the hands raised and body turned slightly, Mary pleads for all of mankind. A depiction of the infinite compassion and love of one who knows God. This representation of Mary is inspired by the oldest known image of her, said to date back to the first century. Medieval tradition held that the icon was painted by Luke the Evangelist. This image survived the iconoclastic era (726-815) when most icons were destroyed and is now preserved in the Church of the Madonna del Rosario. Icons of this style date back to the Byzantine Empire (330 to 1453 AD) and early Renaissance era. These have been a central feature of Eastern Orthodox, Greek, and Slavic Christianity. The art of ‘writing an icon’ is considered a spiritual discipline. The term ‘write’ is used because they are meant to be Scripture in visual form. To this day, icons are revered not merely as paintings but as windows to the Divine and channels for Grace. Dimensions approximately  12.5 x 9  |  8cm depth 130 grams