Icône de la Mère de Dieu “Source de Vie”. Lot n° 13

Tempera and gold on wood, the upper part of the icon is missing. Constantinople or Balkans, 18th century. H. 28 x W. 48 cm (frame : H. 41,3 x W. 60,5). History The creation of this iconographic model comes from a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary located in front of the walls of Constantinople and which contained a miraculous spring. The court, the pilgrims and the people went there to drink the water and to wash themselves. The sick, the crippled, the blind and the lame came here in the hope of a cure. On the feast of the Ascension, the emperor and his dignitaries went there with the clergy in procession singing the praises of the Mother of God: "Rejoice, Source of inexhaustible life".