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Source Description
The central part of this three-panel painting reproduces the wooden icon screen ("iconostasis") that stands in front of the altar in Orthodox churches. Small in size and easily portable, the piece was used for personal devotions. Its imitation of monumental church decoration reminded the viewers that since God is omnipresent, prayer in private is the same as praying in church. It was probably made on Corfu, the resting place of St. Spyridon, who is portrayed on the right end of the central panel. For several centuries, this Greek island was a colony of Venice, hence the influence of Italian baroque art seen in the ornamentation of the frame.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4682
label
Miniature Iconostasis, with Scenes from the Life of Christ
core
obj
dtoType
drawing
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4682
sourceUrl
contentType
drawing
stage
normalized
title
Miniature Iconostasis, with Scenes from the Life of Christ
description
The central part of this three-panel painting reproduces the wooden icon screen ("iconostasis") that stands in front of the altar in Orthodox churches. Small in size and easily portable, the piece was used for personal devotions. Its imitation of monumental church decoration reminded the viewers that since God is omnipresent, prayer in private is the same as praying in church. It was probably made on Corfu, the resting place of St. Spyridon, who is portrayed on the right end of the central panel. For several centuries, this Greek island was a colony of Venice, hence the influence of Italian baroque art seen in the ornamentation of the frame.
provenance
George Robinson Harding, London, [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1930, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1700 (Early Modern)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Painting & Drawing
portable iconstasis
paintings
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
68.2
height
42.1
depth
11.8
dimensionsRaw
closed: 26 7/8 x 16 9/16 x 4 5/8 in. (68.2 x 42.1 x 11.8 cm);open: 26 7/8 x 29 1/8 x 4 5/8 in. (68.2 x 74 x 11.8 cm);each wing: 26 7/8 x 7 5/16 in. (68.2 x 18.5 cm)
style
Post-Byzantine
Source extras
cul
Orthodox Eastern
med
tempera and gold on wood
creator_ids
6256
collection_ids
BYZ
exhibition_ids
648
358
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
5664a93215c5f376