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UnknownChristian Orthodox icon on panel (Ethiopia) First Half of 20th CenturyXXth Century
XXth Century
About the Item
Framed wooden icon with a depiction of a winged devil in chains in the center. This could be Lucifer, the rebel angel who fell from Heaven and became the prince of all demons and was later defeated by Archangel Michael and the other angels (an entirely similar depiction can be found inside the ancient monastery of Kebran Gabriel on Lake Tana). Below, a sacred text with the most important verses traced in red and the others in black. On either side of the devil are two figures of saints or anchorites holding a sacred text and a thaumaturgic cross. In the lower part of the table, on the sides, are two symbols apparently of pagan origin, the sun and the moon. The representation is enriched at the bottom by the figure of another blessing monk and, all around, by other faces of saints and polychrome geometric decorations whose pattern has been handed down through the centuries.
The Christian religion spread to 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. Stylistically, the kinship with Eastern icons is also quite close, although Ethiopian icons, as in the present case, differ in the use of joyful colors and the introduction of pagan symbols, in this case the sun and moon. Such symbols, rather than suggesting a form of syncretism, fit seamlessly into the Christian-based depiction, giving an exquisitely Ethiopian touch to the work.
- Creation Year:XXth Century
- Dimensions:Height: 25.99 in (66 cm)Width: 22.05 in (56 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Milan, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU680316028312
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