A beautiful Vetka icon of the Nativity of the Theotokos

This is a classic example of the Vetka icon style. Vetka is a town in Belarus, and has mostly lost its historic icon painting history. These icons were mostly made by Old Believers, and often exhibited signs of baroque and western influence, but adopted what worked and avoided slipping into the uncanny valley of the Nikonian westernized icons.

Old Believer schools with realistic influences (Like Vetka and to a lesser extent, Mstera), create some of my favorite iconography.

The detailing on the architecture in here is breathtaking. The use of three dimensions is reminscient of early Renaissance paintings, and the lovely nature scene above the main setting is beautifully done.

If you look at the top of the icon, you can see a grey-haired and white robed figure. This is the Father, depicted as the Ancient of Days. Despite accusations by Nikonians and Old Believers of this depiction being a western influence, this accusation was condemned by the Holy Stoglav Council.  Additionally, several Holy Fathers of the Church testify to it's canonicity. An important aspect of viewing such a depiction of the Father is to keep in mind that it is not a hypostatical depiction. This is a metaphorical and allegorical depiction.


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