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UnknownChristian Orthodox Alabaster Icon (Ethiopia) First half of 20th century1900s
1900s
$6,581.87
£4,889.23
€5,500
CA$9,080.14
A$9,981.58
CHF 5,245.86
MX$121,212.69
NOK 65,440.77
SEK 62,000.52
DKK 41,868.85
About the Item
This stone icon depicts the Crucifixion at the top and Calvary at the bottom. At the foot of the Cross is Our Lady and St. John the Evangelist. The tormentor who flogs Jesus on his ascent to Golgotha is portrayed in profile as is generally the case for villainous characters. The portrayal is intense and exudes a deep pathos, though maintaining a certain spiritual detachment typical of the mysticism of the Orthodox Church. The static nature of the crucifixion, which expresses the tragic nature of an irreparable event, is contrasted by the dynamism of Calvary in which human suffering and a sense of defeat are still protagonists. John appears distraught. But in the soothing face of the crucified Christ and the revealing gesture of the Virgin Mary pointing with her hand to the Son of God, the exultation of Easter is already anticipated.
The Christian religion spread to the kingdom of Axum (capital of the mythical kingdom of Sheba) in the mid-4th century, under King Ezana, who converted from polytheism to monotheism and then to Christianity. In the fifth and sixth centuries, Syrian monks (whom tradition identifies as the "Nine Saints" and the "Righteous Ones") traveled to the kingdom to spread the new faith. Ethiopians, for that matter, proudly claim to be directly descended from the Solomonic dynasty through Menilek, son of Azieb (or Makeda), Queen i Sheba, and Israel's King Solomon. There is no doubt that Ethiopian icon art is related to that of the Eastern tradition, particularly Greek-Byzantine, whose sacred iconography it retains while reserving much attention to the figures of local saints and anchorites. However, the production of icons would only begin or gain momentum from the 15th century onward, under Emperor Zara Yacob, thanks to the arrival of foreign artists, especially Italians. Stone sculptures such as this one, preserved within monasteries and churches, reveal a greater stylistic autonomy than Eastern models. This specimen, in particular, reveals a finesse of execution not currently found. The material, green alabaster, also differs from that used in recent production in which a soapstone is preferred that is easy to work and does not tend to chip.
- Creation Year:1900s
- Dimensions:Height: 9.45 in (24 cm)Width: 6.7 in (17 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Milan, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU680316028302
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