Madre della Consolazione, Veneto-Cretan, early 16th century

depicted half-length on a gold ground, wearing a blue tunic and purple maphorion fastened at the chest, a transparent white veil draped over her hair, the mantle decorated with a web of fine gold lines, the Mother of God holding Christ on her right arm, Christ holding a closed scroll in one hand and making a sign of blessing with the other

The present icon can be placed in the general context of Veneto-Cretan icons produced on the island of Crete during its Venetian occupation.  The type was probably introduced to the Orthodox-Christian world by icon painter Nikolas Tzafouris in the second half of the 15th century; his oeuvre is typified by combined Byzantine and Italian iconographical types.