Back to search results

OLD TESTAMENT TRINITY

Creator(s): Unknown

On view in: Icon Room


About this object

This large icon represents the Holy Trinity as three angels who appeared to Abraham and Sarah near their home by the oaks of Mamre, and foretold the birth of their son Isaac (Genesis 18: 1-16). The angels are seated at a table, long trident wands in their left hands, their right hands extended in blessing over the three cups before them; knives and spoons are set on the white table top. The central angel (Christ) wears a green hymation over a red chiton patterned in gold. These colors are reversed in the clothing of the angel to our left, while the angel on the right wears a brown hymation with green highlights over an ochre yellow chiton. Their faces are broad-cheeked and spherical, their figures rather squat, emphasized by their full, spread wings. Behind them is a building with a triple pedament, a tree inclining over the head of the central angel, and a rocky mountain. The sides of the table, the angels' chairs and footstools, and the oak trunk are densely ornamented with chrysography. The borders and sky are worn done to the gesso layer (in places to the linen), with scattered traces of shellacked silver imitating gold leaf and patches of yellow ochre paint. The paint surface on the building and the mountain is very thin in places and there are many areas of inpainting visible on top of the cracquelure. The gold halo of the central angel is overpainted a cinnamon pink, those of the others a pale green. Traces of an inscription "Holy . . ." remain on the white top border and a red filenka frames the outer edge.

Object name:
OLD TESTAMENT TRINITY
Made from:
Tempera on wood
Made in:
Russia
Date made:
Late 16th c.-Early 17th c.
Size:
68.6 × 57 cm (27 × 22 7/16 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
54.2
Class:
ICON
Signature marks:
INSCRIPTION; LABEL Fragment of inscription: "STAIA" in red on top polye; Label with black wavy border on upper PR of verso: "..89?"
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973