BEDEUTENDE UND MONUMENTALE IKONE MIT DEM JÜNGSTEN GERICHT
AN IMPORTANT AND MONUMENTAL ICON SHOWING THE LAST JUDGEMENT Russian, 17th century Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. This monumental icon visualizes in detail the text of Revelation. It begins with the preparation of the Throne in the center of the composition, where the instruments of the Passion and the closed Gospels are placed on an altar attended by two angels and groups of saints. Above, Christ the Savior is shown on a throne supported by fiery wheels descending from Heaven flanked by his Mother and John the Baptist in supplication. To the left and right the Apostles are portrayed seated, each holding an open Book. The row behind depict holy figures and crowds of angels. The upper part of the panel illustrates scenes of Paradise; to the left is the celestial banquet, to the right, are two angels unfurling the deep blue skies that include the sun and the moon. Below, against a series of circular glories, there is a visual narrative of God the Father sending his Son for a second time to earth in order "to judge the living and the dead" as promised in the Nicene Creed. The lower half of the icon depicts Hell; it is dominated by a large snake, the personification of the Devil, bearing rings, each representing a sin, and angels with spears that push the sinners to chastisement and torture; to the left and right of this central composition, two vertical arrangements show respectively the ascent of Just Monks to Paradise and the expulsion of the sinners to the fiery fields of Hell and the mouth of multi-headed, devouring beast. The icon is meticulously rendered with deep colors, the scenes on the upper part are structured around clusters and swirling clouds, the ochre background is inscribed with the text of the Apocalypse. Areas of restoration. 145 x 122 cm. Literatur: Icona. Volto Del Mistero, Mailand 1991, 120. Exhibited: Icona. Volto Del Mistero, Milano 1991, 120.