Transfiguration

Iconography:  Transfiguration of Our Lord

Date: XV century. The beginning of the 15th c. (1403?)

Origin: From the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (Spaso-Preobrazhensky) in Pereslavl-Zalessky.

Material: Wood, tempera

Dimensions:  height 184 cm, width 134 cm

The figure of Christ is depicted standing on the middle top of a rocky landscape. He is dressed in white clothes with golden assist holding a scroll in his hand. Christ is surrounded by a double blue round halo (“glory”) inside which is a white, with golden fragments, six-pointed sharp-cornered star.

On either side of Christ, on side tops stand the prophet Elijah (left) and Moses with the table of commandments in his hands (right). In the top corners of the icon are the angels carrying the prophets in the clouds. To the left and right, against the caves, are the groups of “ascending” and “descending” apostles with Christ. The central figure of Christ radiates three blue rays blinding the apostles. Against the hills, to the left, stands Peter with the uplifted right hand. In the center is John plummeting upside down. To the left is James on his knees covering eyes with a hand.

Inv. № 28797. © The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Bibliography:

Государственная Третьяковская Галерея. Каталог собрания. Древнерусское искусство X — начала XV века. Том I. № 62.

  • General view