0225 Virgin of Vladimir

 Russian

19th cent.

34.5x25x2.5 cms

This icon was in the private collection of Sir William and Lady Hayter and carries his signature on the reverse. Sir William was the British Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1953 - 1956 in the years immediately after Stalin's death. As such he was intimately involved with organising the visit of Bulganin and Kruschev's visit to the the U.K. and the handling of the diplomatic fall-out after the "Buster" Crabbe disappearance. After retirement Sir William became Warden of New College Oxford.