In Roman circles and Catholic circles that have a particular passion and interest in the Eternal City, one of the most popular and venerated historical icons is that of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani. The icon in question takes it name from its historical association with the protection of the Roman people, tied also in part to Pope Gregory the Great who, according to tradition, had the icon carried throughout the streets of Rome for three days in the year A.D. 593, praying before it for an end to the plague which was being suffered in the region at that time. Beyond this, the icon was also famously invoked by Pope St. Pius V for the ultimate success of the Battle of Lepanto and in general it is an icon that is especially venerated in Roman popular piety and linked to the identity of Christian Rome and the Roman pontiffs.
The origin of this historic icon, which has been housed in the Cappella Paolina of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore since the seventeenth century, is Byzantine, thought to have been brought to Rome from Crete in the year 590. The historical icon is painted on cedar and can be seen here (though it should be noted that the icon has undergone various over-paintings during the course of the centuries, with the version seen here being the result of recent restoration efforts):
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| The historical icon |
In this regard then, what we see today is likely a combination of stylistic influences ranging from the late antique period to the medieval with modern restorations. Regardless, it is a famously venerated, historic icon, and one that has seen various replicas made of it over the course of time, and in that regard, if one is going to commission a replica of a popular and famous icon, whether it be for one's church, one's religious community or Catholic institution, or for one's home, certainly you want to be certain that you will get a high quality replica that seeks to be as precise as possible to the historical original. Not all replicas are equal, but the Italian studio of Dal Molin Stefano has certainly shown itself to be up to this particular task, for here is one of their own replicas of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani icon for your consideration:
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| The replica icon |
Now, some might point to the checkered border being absent, but of course, all of these things are possible if someone wishes to commission such -- for as a reminder, Dal Molin Stefano work in a bespoke manner, executing commissions for clients according to their specifications. So in this regard, anything (within reason of course) is possible.
The real focus here, however, are not these secondary, smaller variances, but rather the real crux of the matter are the faithfulness of the figures depicted within the icon itself, most especially the details of the faces, and I think many will agree that what Dal Molin Stefano has produced here is a wonderful replica of one of the most important and venerated icons of the Roman church; one that is immediately unmistakable to those familiar with the famous original Roman icon.
Some details for your consideration.
If you'd like to explore this possibility of commissioning an icon such as this (or another for that matter) whether for home or for church, I would certainly encourage you to head on over to Dal Molin Stefano's website or to reach out to them on social media to consider this and others of their offerings.
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