MONUMENTALE IKONE MIT DEM PROPHETEN ELIAS UND SEINER FEURIGEN HIMMELFAHRT
A MONUMENTAL ICON OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH IN THE DESERT AND HIS FIERY ASCENT TO HEAVEN North Russian, early 17th century Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. The haloes made of silver, covered by a golden lacquer. The Prophet portrayed twice; when contemplating in front of his cave by the banks of the river Jordan and, whilst ascending to Heaven. The wilderness depicted like a barren and rocky landscape with sparse vegetation. The upper part of the composition occupied by the fiery mandorla enclosing the figure of the Prophet standing on a biga and being pushed by an angel towards the segment of heaven at the upper right corner. The ascetic composition rendered with muted colours in the lower section, contrasting sharply with the dense crimson of the mandorla in the celestial plane. Minimally restored. 83 x 65 cm.