The motif of this icon is based on a fragment from the Book of Genesis, which tells about the appearance of God to the first Biblical Patriarch Abraham. The Lord appeared before him in the form of three men, and during the meal He promised Abraham that he would soon have a son, Isaac, the ancestor of the People of God. This story underpins the image of the Holy Trinity represented as The Hospitality of Abraham.
The Holy Trinity (The Hospitality of Abraham)
Creation period
First half / middle of the XIX century. Volga Region
Dimensions
53x41x2,5 cm
53х41х2,5 cm
53х41х2,5 cm
Technique
Wood (two-piece panel with a cut-back centre portion), two parallel sunk keys (oak). No canvas visible. Levkas, tempera, gilding
Collection
Exhibition
3
Open in app#3
Unknown Author
The Holy Trinity (The Hospitality of Abraham)
#2
#7
This icon was painted in the Volga Region in the first half or in the middle of the XIX century, however, some of the applied techniques were typical for the Russian icon-painting tradition of the second half of the XVII century.
#8
For instance, some objects were outlined in black on gold in order to make the icon partially look like an engraving: the wings of the angels, vessels on the table, seats, and foot mats were painted in this manner.
#9
Another popular Russian icon painting technique, which was also used to make this icon, is highlighting with a gold powder paint: the himation mantles of the guests of Abraham were abundantly covered with it, and the lighter parts of the garments of Abraham and his child were also marked with this paint.
#10
In the icon, the three men were depicted as angels, which was usual for the late icon-painting tradition. They are sitting on thrones around a rectangular table covered with vessels and dishes with food. Each angel is blessing the meal with two fingers of the right hand while holding a rod in the left hand. To the left of the angel in the center of the icon, Abraham is holding a chalice in his hands; and to the right of the angel, Abraham’s wife Sarah is sitting and holding a dish with bread baked for the guests.
#12
Oak of Mamre. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
#11
The icon was brought to the Orenburg Regional Museum of Fine Arts in 1988, and in the early 1990s it was restored in Moscow. In the central part of the icon, one can see minor losses of paint and gilding, as well as scuff marks. In the places where pieces of the original primer fell off, tinted inserts of levkas (chalk mixed with animal or fish glue and linseed oil) were applied.
#13
Orenburg Regional Museum of Fine Arts
read morehide
00:00
00:00
1x
The Holy Trinity (The Hospitality of Abraham)
Creation period
First half / middle of the XIX century. Volga Region
Dimensions
53x41x2,5 cm
53х41х2,5 cm
53х41х2,5 cm
Technique
Wood (two-piece panel with a cut-back centre portion), two parallel sunk keys (oak). No canvas visible. Levkas, tempera, gilding
Collection
Exhibition
3
Point your smartphone camera to open in the appOpen in app
Share
