3. Resurrection and Feasts

Details

Russian, first half 19th century, Palekh
71 x 56.5 cms

Provenance:
Jan Morsink Ikonen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Private collection, The Netherlands.

Literature:
‘Icons, catalogue 2000’, Jan Morsink Ikonen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ill. no. 42.
S. Morsink, ‘Het goddelijke nabij. Oude ikonen uit particulier bezit’, Waanders Uitgevers, Zwolle, The Netherlands, 2000, p. 48, ill. 41.
K. Braamhorst, ‘Ikonen lexicon’, Warnsveld, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2004, illustrated on p. 281.

Exhibition:
‘Het goddelijke nabij. Oude ikonen uit particulier bezit’, Bijbels Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, December 15 2000 – February 25 2001.

Description:
Fifteen Church festivals of the Orthodox year are depicted around the Easter festival.

The Anastasis, the Easter feast, depicted with a double theme of the Descent into hell and the Resurrection of Christ. Christ is portrayed centrally in a mandorla at the bottom. He kicks in the doors of the hades and takes Adam by the wrist. He raises the believers to eternal life, taking the line of believers with him in his ascent to heaven (top right). The repentant thief is at the heavenly gate and is greeted by Enoch and Elijah, the symbols of eternal life. The Resurrection of Christ is depicted in the top middle. At Christ’s feet Roman soldiers are falling down, frightened and unable to understand the miraculous Resurrection. To Christ’s right a chorus of angels is dealing with evil. In the left top corner Christ’s Crucifixion and the Incredulity of Thomas are portrayed. To Christ’s left we see the myrrh bearing women at the empty sepulchre. The scene underneath the Crucifixion depicts St Peter, who is looking into the empty sepulchre. The right lower corner shows the miraculous draught of fishes.

The festivals are read tier by tier from left to right.

The 1st tier shows: the Birth of the Mother of God, the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, the Holy Trinity, the Annunciation and the Nativity of Christ. The New Testament Trinity is depicted directly below the Holy Trinity. On the 2nd tier we see: the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Baptism of Christ in the river Jordan. The 3rd tier shows: Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem and the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. On the 4th tier are depicted: the Ascension of Christ and the Dormition. On the last tier can be seen: the Raising of Lazarus, the Beheading of Saint John, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Pokrov and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The corners of the icon show the four Evangelists with their Gospels.