The Virgin Nikopoios also known as

Panagia Panagia ( el, Παναγία, fem. of , + , the ''All-Holy'', or the ''Most Holy''; pronounced ) (also transliterated Panaghia or Panajia), in Medieval and Modern Greek, is one of the titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern ...

Nikopoios is a

tempera Tempera (), also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk. Tempera also refers to the paintings done ...

painting by

Thomas Bathas Thomas Bathas ( el, Θωμάς Μπαθάς, 1554 – 1599; also known as Tomios or Tomio, Batta Tornio) was a Greek painter, educator, and Vikar. He employed the maniera greca in some of his work but he also broke from tradition by employi ...

. Bathas was active in

Heraklion Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban A ...

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

, and

Corfu Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...

during the second half of the 16th century. The painting follows the traditional Byzantine style characteristic of the traditional

maniera greca Italo-Byzantine is a style term in art history, mostly used for medieval paintings produced in Italy under heavy influence from Byzantine art. It initially covers religious paintings copying or imitating the standard Byzantine icon types, but pa ...

. The painting also featured the

Venetian style Venetian Gothic is the particular form of Italian Gothic architecture typical of Venice, originating in local building requirements, with some influence from Byzantine architecture, and some from Islamic architecture, reflecting Venice's tradin ...

. The position of the Virgin and Child is the Nikopoios (the bringer of victory). The word Nicopeia is indicative of Constantinople. There are actually many different types. The name "bringer of the victory" has been associated with this position and style after 7th century Byzantine Emperor

Heraclius Heraclius ( grc-gre, Ἡράκλειος, Hērákleios; c. 575 – 11 February 641), was List of Byzantine emperors, Eastern Roman emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the Exa ...

choose the image of the

Theotokos ''Theotokos'' (Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are ''Dei Genitrix'' or ''Deipara'' (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations are " ...

and Child and made them his protectors when he sailed from Carthage to Constantinople in 610 AD. Byzantine Emperor

left the image in Constantinople after the victory. According to legend, the siege of the Avaren and Slaves was averted in 626, after praying to the image. Another legend states that Empress Eudokia gave the icon to her sister in sister-in-law Empress Pulcheria in the 400s. The original was part of Venetian loot when Constantinople was sacked in 1204 during the fourth Crusade. The Madonna Nicopeia became part of the collection of

St Mark's Basilica The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark ( it, Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco), commonly known as St Mark's Basilica ( it, Basilica di San Marco; vec, Baxéłega de San Marco), is the cathedral church of the Catholic Chu ...

. Ironically,

maintained some of the paintings at the Basilica. The Virgin Nicopeia was definitely inspired by the Madonna Nicopeia at

Description

The painting is egg tempera and gold leaf on wood. The dimensions are 53 cm x 41.2 cm or 20.9 in x 16.2 in, it was completed in 1594 in Venice. The icon features the Virgin holding the infant Jesus. The Virgin Mary is depicted as half-body and frontal, holding Christ with both hands in front of her chest, and on the axis of her body. The halo is decorated with precious stones. Her cloak is dark in contrast to the shining garments of Christ. The infant’s halo features three precious stones denoting the father, son, and holy spirit. Two of the stones are the same. There is a scroll in the infant's left hand. The scroll in his hand has many interpretations. Some call it the scroll of wisdom, it symbolizes the word of god or indicates that Jesus is the living word of God. It can also denote the new testament. The Virgin holds his baby blanket. Paliouras, 1976, pp. 31-32 The position of the Madonna and Child is the traditional

Our Lady of the Sign The Icon of ''Our Lady of the Sign'' ( el, Panagia or Παναγία Ορωμένη or Παναγία Πλατυτέρα; cu, italic=yes, Ikona Bozhey Materi "Znamenie"; pl, Ikona Bogurodzicy "Znamienie") is the term for a particular type of ic ...

also known as Platitera and in Italian Nostra Signora del Segno. The position is also referred to as the Nikopoios. This is very different from the Madonna and Child

Hodegetria A Hodegetria , ; russian: Одиги́трия, Odigítria ; Romanian: Hodighitria, or Virgin Hodegetria, is an iconographic depiction of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) holding the Child Jesus at her side while pointing to him as the source of s ...

(Our Lady of the Way) in Italian La Madonna Odigitria. Another term commonly used is the Glykophilousa (Virgin of the Sweet Kiss),

Eleusa The Eleusa (or ''Eleousa''; el, Ἐλεούσα – ''tenderness'' or ''showing mercy'') is a type of depiction of the Virgin Mary in icons in which the Christ Child is nestled against her cheek. In the Western Church the type is often known as ...

Virgin (Virgin of Compassion), and

Pelagonitissa The Pelagonitissa (also known as "The Virgin with the Playing Child") is a type of depiction of the Virgin Mary (often in icons) in which the Virgin holds an infant Jesus in an abrupt movement, his head back and grabbing onto her. Pelagonitissa wa ...

(Playing child) are interchanged. Although the subject is similar among the artists of the style each specific painting has its own character and identity.

Gallery

File:The Nicopeia Virgin & Child. Byzantine, Constantinople c.1120.tif, Nicopeia Virgin & Child 1120 File:Madonna Nicopeia San Marco interior.png, Madonna Nicopeia San Marco

References

{{Cretan Renaissance 16th-century paintings Paintings in Venice Cretan Renaissance paintings