Four Icons from a Pair of Doors (Panels), possibly part of a Polyptych: John the Theologian and Prochoros, the Baptism (Epiphany), Harrowing of Hell (Anastasis), and Saint Nicholas
Exquisitely painted, these icons represent the height of icon painting during the last decades of Byzantine rule from Constantinople. Detailed representations of the Baptism of Christ and the Anastasis, the Easter image of the Orthodox Church, animate the major events with related narratives. Saint John dictates to his scribe, Prochoros, in their cave on the island of Patmos in a Byzantine style. Saint Nicholas is shown as bishop of Myra with detailed narratives of two of his miracles. His liturgical robes display flowing drapery reflecting the artist’s awareness of Italian, possibly Venetian, art.
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John the Theologian and Prochoros; the Baptism (Epiphany); Harrowing of Hell (Anastasis); Saint Nicholas
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John the Theologian and Prochoros; the Baptism (Epiphany); Harrowing of Hell (Anastasis); Saint Nicholas
Saint John and Prochorus on Patmos (2013.980a); After Conservation
The Baptism (2013.980b); After Conservation
Anastasis (2013.980c); After Conservation
Saint Nicholas (2013.980d); After Conservation
Artwork Details
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Title:Four Icons from a Pair of Doors (Panels), possibly part of a Polyptych: John the Theologian and Prochoros, the Baptism (Epiphany), Harrowing of Hell (Anastasis), and Saint Nicholas
Date:early 15th century
Geography:Made in Crete ?
Culture:Byzantine
Medium:Tempera and gold on wood
Dimensions:Overall ((a) St John and Prochoros on Patmos): 10 1/16 × 7 3/8 × 3/8 in. (25.5 × 18.8 × 0.9 cm) Overall ((b) Baptism): 10 5/16 × 7 3/8 × 3/8 in. (26.2 × 18.7 × 0.9 cm) Overall ((c) Anastasis): 10 5/16 × 7 1/4 × 3/8 in. (26.2 × 18.4 × 0.9 cm) Overall ((d) St. Nicholas): 10 13/16 × 7 3/8 × 5/16 in. (27.4 × 18.8 × 0.8 cm)
Classification:Paintings-Icons
Credit Line:Purchase, Mary and Michael Jaharis Gift, 2013
Accession Number:2013.980a–d
[ Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, June 18-22, 1963, no. 1258)]; [ Galerie Ilas Neufert, Munich (from 1963)]; Dr. Hans Mayer(by 1970; c and d only); [ Jan Morsink Ikonen, Amsterdam (sold 2013)]
Grosse Kunstauktion in Luzern. Lucerne: Galerie Fischer, June 18–22, 1963. no. 1258, p. 70, pl. 33.
An Exhibition and Sale of Ancient and Contemporary Icons, Fourteenth through Twentieth Centuries: For the Benefit of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky and the Russian Orthodox Theological Seminary of St. Sergius, Paris. New York: Arcade Gallery, 1965. no. 5, p. 16.
Haus der Kunst München. Ikonen, 13. bis 19. Jahrhundert. Munich: Haus der Kunst, 1970. no. 7–11, pls. 8, 10.
Latsis, Marianna. Meta ato Vyzantio: The Survival of Byzantine Sacred Art. London: The Hellenic Centre, 1996. unpaginated, discussed in relation to nos. 2–3.
Bentchev, Ivan, and Eva Haustein-Bartsch. Muttergottesikonen. Bielefeld: Kerber Verlag, 2000. pp. 40–42.
Haustein-Bartsch, Eva. "Die Ikone 'Lukas malt die Gottesmutter’ im Ikonen-Museum Recklinghausen." In Griechische Ikonen: Beiträge des Kolloquiums zum Gedenken an Manolis Chatzidakis in Recklinghausen, 1998 / Greek Icons: Proceedings of the Symposium in Memory of Manolis Chatzidakis in Recklinghausen, edited by Eva Haustein-Bartsch, and Nano Chatzidakis. Athens: Benaki Museum, 2000. pp. 11–28, fig. 16–17, 19, 22–23.
Kazanaki-Lappa, Maria. "Two Fifteenth-Century Icons in a Private Collection." In Griechische Ikonen: Beiträge des Kolloquiums zum Gedenken an Manolis Chatzidakis in Recklinghausen, 1998 / Greek Icons: Proceedings of the Symposium in Memory of Manolis Chatzidakis in Recklinghausen, edited by Eva Haustein-Bartsch, and Nano Chatzidakis. Athens: Benaki Museum, 2000. pp. 29, 38.
Abel, Ulf, and Vera Moore. Icons. Stockholm: Nationalmuseum, 2002. p. 26.
Drandaki, Anastasia. Greek Icons, 14th–18th century: The Rena Andreadis Collection. Milan: Skira Editore, 2002. pp. 56, 59 nn. 35–36.
Vassilaki, Maria, ed. The Hand of Angelos: An Icon Painter in Venetian Crete. Athens: Benaki Museum, 2010. pp. 88–95, (mentioned in relation to others in group).
Art and Antiquities, including important sculptures from the Collection of Prof. Dr. Rudolf Leopold. Auction no. 678. Stuttgart: Nagel Auktionen, February 16, 2012. no. 1006, p. 640.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. "One Hundred Forty-Fourth Annual Report of the Trustees for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014." Annual Report of the Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art 144 (2014). p. 45.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Recent Acquisitions: A Selection, 2012-2014." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, n.s., 72, no. 2 (Fall 2014). p. 22.
Stein, Wendy A. How to Read Medieval Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016. no. 6, pp. 12, 16, 40–41.
Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi) (Italian, Florence 1501–1547 Rome)
ca. 1524–26
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