ASCENSION OF ST. ELIJAH

Creator(s): Unknown

Currently in storage

About this object

St. Elijah is drawn up to heaven in a chariot drawn by three winged horses within a fiery, dark red whirlwind. An angel with spread wings assists the ascent by holding the red mass at the upper left, while the hand of God emerges from a mandorla in the opposite upper corner, two fingers extended in blessing. Elijah looks back over his shoulder at his disciple Elisha at lower left, who reaches up to clutch the hem of his master's fleece. On the ground beneath the wheels of the chariot is depicted a previous incident, the angel awakening Elijah, while a black raven has alighted on one of the scrubby bushes on the rocky mountain, alluding to [?]. The face of the icon is carved with a white polia (once covered in gold leaf) and a red filenka that is also carved.

Object name:

ASCENSION OF ST. ELIJAH

Made from:

Tempera on wood

Made in:

Russia

Date made:

17th c.

Size:

32.1 × 27 cm (12 5/8 × 10 5/8 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

54.60

Class:

ICON

Signature marks:

LABEL verso: ". . .TVENNYI OTDEL" (fragment of paper label)

Credit line:

Gift of George Bunker, 1969