The Glykophilousa Virgin (Virgin of the Sweet Kiss) is a version of the Eleusa Virgin (Virgin of Compassion). She can be distinguished by the detail of the Child who has lost a sandal.
Her gaze is slightly clouded over: Mary has a premonition of the events of her son’s Passion. Deep affection connects mother and Child, who is grasping the edge of the Virgin’s cloak with his left hand while in his right he holds a scroll with a quote from the Gospel of Luke (4,18): “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me.”
The iconography and style – the network of fine white lines on the face and the other parts of the body left bare, the delicacy of the features, the specific outline of the lower eyelid, the gold highlights on the clothing and the subtle light and shade – suggest a painter of the style of Andreas Ritzos (1421-1499).
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