Anonymous (eleventh/twelfth century)
Obverse
Half-length portrait of the Virgin with Christ on her left arm; Christ extends his arm across the Virgin; their faces touch. Sigla: ̅Θ̣̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Bust of St Nicholas, blessing with his right hand and holding a gospel book in his left. Inscription in two columns: |Ν|ΙΚ̣Ο̣|Λ̣|Α|Ο|Σ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικόλαος. Border of dots.
Obverse
Half-length portrait of the Virgin with Christ on her left arm; Christ extends his arm across the Virgin; their faces touch. Sigla: ̅Θ̣̅ : Μ(ήτηρ) Θ(εοῦ). Border of dots.
Reverse
Bust of St Nicholas, blessing with his right hand and holding a gospel book in his left. Inscription in two columns: |Ν|ΙΚ̣Ο̣|Λ̣|Α|Ο|Σ : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Νικόλαος. Border of dots.
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1801 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 17.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 7, no. 8.10. |
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 7: The Iconographic Seals (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The iconographic type in which the faces of the Mother of God and the Christ child are touching in an intimate maternal embrace, often referred to as the Virgin Eloisa (the compassionate, or merciful), begins to flourish in the late eleventh century. It has been associated with the development of other emotive images contemporaneous with the elaboration of the Passion liturgy of the Komnenian era.