The Dormition of the Virgin

On the golden ground the inscription in red majuscules Η ΚΟΙΜΗΣΙΣ ΤΗΣ Θ(εοτό)ΚΟΥ can be read. Οn the reverse of the icon a red cross is painted with leaves and the apotropaic inscription ΙΣ ΧΣ ΝΙΚΑ. In this instance, the composition has been simplified and consists only of the principal elements. The whole scene has a solid closed structure with the purpose of projecting the dominating theme, the contrast between the horizontal and the vertical, producing an austere, compact composition. The vertical axis is formed by the predominating figure of Christ, who holds the Virgin’ s soul, as a swathed baby. The horizontal axis is indicated by the Virgin’s bed, as well as the line of buildings at the top. The group of the apostles and the hierarchs is thus confined to the sides, in restrained poses. The composition has a number of features going back to a pre-Palaeologan model, which survived into Palaeologan times: the tendency to simplification, the use of different sizes according to their importance, the over-emphasis on the figure of Christ and the confined, closed space. Nevertheless, the whole scene is executed in a painterly manner and has a lot of elements that lead to its assignment to the Cretan cycle: the coloration, the use of natural and not ‘Byzantine’ lightning, the Gothic elements of the buildings and their three-dimensional facades, and finally the use of pseudo-kufic decoration on the cover of the Virgin’s bed. All the above attribute the work to a Cretan workshop.