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| View Original: | Ethiopian - Folding Processional Icon in the Shape of a Fan - Walters 369 - Open.jpg (1797x504) | |||
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| Keywords: Ethiopian - Folding Processional Icon in the Shape of a Fan - Walters 369 - Open.jpg Painted icons of this type are extremely rare surviving only at the Walters the Church of Tana Cherqos on Lake Tana and the Church of Saint Mary at Däbrä Seyon Painted on five sheets of parchment that have been stitched together and folded thirty-eight identically sized figures span its surface The deliberate variation of costumes and hand gestures creates an animated composition Only the principal nine figures have distinguishing inscriptions Reading from left to right they are Juliet Cyriacus George John the Baptist Michael Mary Raphael Paul and Afnin The unidentified figures are undoubtedly a combination of Old Testament patriarchs and prophets as well as New Testament apostles and saints The painting style exhibits close parallels with the illuminations of the Gospel book from Gunda Gunde W 850 suggesting that this object was also produced by a Stephanite monastery Although this object adopts the form of a fan it is perhaps best understood as a processional icon The wooden panels at either end of the Däbrä Seyon fan indicate that when not in use the object was stored much like a book with its folding leaves protected between paired covers Yet when unfolded the two covers came together to create a handle for a giant wheel that could be displayed during liturgical processions and church services Although lacking its original wooden covers the Walters fan would have formed a circle roughly four feet in diameter when unfolded The Virgin Mary whose hands are raised in a gesture of prayer is then at the top of the wheel By depicting Mary in the company of saints and angels the icon powerfully evokes the celestial community of the church late Other date century 15 tempera with ink on parchment wood handles Extended cm 61 6 391 4 12 ; Panel cm 61 6 10 3 accession number 36 9 27195 Knopfelmacher Collection New York date and mode of acquisition unknown William Wright Gallery New York date and mode of acquisition unknown Walters Art Museum 1996 by purchase Museum purchase with funds provided by the W Alton Jones Foundation Acquisition Fund 1996 Ethiopian Art at The Walters The Walters Art Gallery Baltimore 1996 Angels of Light Ethiopian Art from the Walters Art Museum Birmingham Museum of Art Birmingham; Smith College Museum of Art Northampton; Museum of Biblical Art New York 2006-2007 place of origin Gondar Ethiopia Walters Art Museum license 3D Art of Ethiopia in the Walters Art Museum Church paintings in Ethiopia Paintings in the Walters Art Museum Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review | ||||
