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Andrei took from Kiev in 1155 several war
trophies, and among them the most important was the famous icon known as the
Virgin of Vladimir, or literally translated the Vladimir's Mother of God, which
he found in the church of the small town of Vishgorod near Kiev. The icon was
painted presumably by Greek masters in the 12th century, though the legend says
that it was the work of Saint Luke the evangelist and that it remained in
Jerusalem until the 5th century when it was brought to Constantinople. The
softness of lines, the delicate shades and the complete absence of austere
outlook cast some doubts on the accepted notion that the icon was the work of a
Byzantine painter. It reached Kiev and Vishgorod in the beginning of the 12th
century where it remained until Prince Andrei took it to Vladimir, where it
became known and earned the reputation as the most holy Russian icon. In 1395
it was rushed to Moscow to save the Kremlin from the Tatars led by Timurlane
and remained there in the cathedral of the Assumption until the revolution of
1917. The icon was believed to possess miraculous power and the belief in its
power to protect and save Russia from foreign invasions was almost limitless.
It was in front of this icon that coronation of Russian tsars took place. As a
painting the icon is a magnificent work of art. It shows an exceptionally
intimate relation and tenderness between mother and her child. Of particular
beauty are the Virgin's eyes which express deep love and great concern for the
future of her son. This icon became the best example of the type of Virgin
called "Umilenie" (Our Lady of Tenderness). It was copied thousands
of times and through centuries exercised a strong influence on Russian
iconographers. After the revolution the Bolsheviks stripped the icon of its
gold setting and hundreds of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other
precious stones that were placed on it by donors. It is now displayed at the
Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow.
Andrei's unsuccessful attempt to conquer Novgorod, and his subsequent
assassination in 1174 put an end to his ambitious plans to unify all Russian
state. Nevertheless, the Vladimir-Suzdal region contributed considerably to the
development of Russian art. Its influence was primarily architectural.
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