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Source Description
The composition of this icon is known as Anastasis, or the Harrowing of Hell, and it is the traditional iconographic representation of the Resurrection. Christ, standing on Hell's broken gates, pulls Adam and Eve out from their tombs, with crowds of Old Testament kings and other biblical figures behind them. The crowned figure on Christ's left is Zachariah, holding a scroll that reads, "Blessed is..." Christ appears again at the bottom of the frame, leading a group of souls out of Hell as angels beat down hapless demons. The icon is painted in the style of the 16th or 17th century, and a spurious "Andrei Rublev" signature (likely added later) tries to pass it off as even older.The gilt metal frame is studded with painted enamels whose European style clashes somewhat with the dimensionless, traditional style of the icon. At the corners are the four evangelists, each with the apocalyptical beast with which he is associated. The other enamels show the Carrying of the Cross, the Annunciation, the severed head of John the Baptist, and the Holy Family with a toddler John the Baptist. Strings of river pearls and large mother-of-pearl "stones" also decorate the frame or "oklad." Such a real pearl border was recalled in later enamel "oklads" by means of white enamel dots.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
2681
label
Icon of the Descent into Hell
core
obj
dtoType
drawing
citationUrl
pageCount
3
Source metadata
id
2681
sourceUrl
contentType
drawing
stage
normalized
title
Icon of the Descent into Hell
description
The composition of this icon is known as Anastasis, or the Harrowing of Hell, and it is the traditional iconographic representation of the Resurrection. Christ, standing on Hell's broken gates, pulls Adam and Eve out from their tombs, with crowds of Old Testament kings and other biblical figures behind them. The crowned figure on Christ's left is Zachariah, holding a scroll that reads, "Blessed is..." Christ appears again at the bottom of the frame, leading a group of souls out of Hell as angels beat down hapless demons. The icon is painted in the style of the 16th or 17th century, and a spurious "Andrei Rublev" signature (likely added later) tries to pass it off as even older.The gilt metal frame is studded with painted enamels whose European style clashes somewhat with the dimensionless, traditional style of the icon. At the corners are the four evangelists, each with the apocalyptical beast with which he is associated. The other enamels show the Carrying of the Cross, the Annunciation, the severed head of John the Baptist, and the Holy Family with a toddler John the Baptist. Strings of river pearls and large mother-of-pearl "stones" also decorate the frame or "oklad." Such a real pearl border was recalled in later enamel "oklads" by means of white enamel dots.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
Icon: 19th century; Frame: 18th century (Modern)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Painting & Drawing
icons
enamels
imageCount
3
pageCount
3
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
39.7
height
32.7
dimensionsRaw
H: 15 5/8 x W: 12 7/8 in. (39.7 x 32.7 cm)
Source extras
cul
Orthodox
inscriptions
[Signature] Forged: Писалъ Андрей Роублевъ; [Translation] Andrei Rublev painted [this]
dynasty
House of Romanov
med
tempera on wood, metal gilt, painted enamel on copper, river pearls, mother-of-pearl
creator_ids
6214
collection_ids
MED
EAN
exhibition_ids
69
956
405
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
1875f807c9b254d4
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
a9f45bbea0e94e09
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
f4d0749b941b0bac
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no