The Icon Of The Mother Of God, “blessed Heaven”

The “Blessed Heaven” icon is a copy of Viktor Vasnetsov’s famous altar fresco in St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv. It dates from the early 20th century and was created before 1917.
The background of the icon is executed using the tsirovka technique (engraving on gold / graffito) on a gilded background. The border ornamentation imitates Byzantine enamel.
Such Art Nouveau-style icons were produced in workshops in the major cities of the Russian Empire. Workshops specializing in the “Vasnetsov style,” catering to churches and a wealthy private clientele, existed in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
In particular, the icon may have been created in the workshops of V. P. Gurianov, M. I. Dikarev, or A. I. Bogatenko. 
The icon is in very good condition. It has only a few isolated, very small retouches on the clothing and the clouds.