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St. John the Evangelist with the Scribe Prokhorus

Painting
This icon is painted in tempura on a wood panel tinged with green on the back. The image shows St. John (labeled in black Cyrillic script over head) and Prokhorus (labeled similarly) both seated and clothed in red and green robes with gold halos. Prokhorus sits at a table with parchment in hand. They are situated in a rocky landscape with a red sun in the upper left hand corner and a red winged lion in the top center. The image is framed with silver etched in flower motifs and a Cyrillic caption at the top. Frame and art style are same size and stylistically similar to 2005.02.061

2005.02.060

Panel

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

19th Century

Label

Back of icon

27 sticker

Icon

Symbol, Religious

Religious Objects

Ceremonial Objects

Category 08: Communication Objects

4-5/16 in

3 in

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Cultural/Historical Context

This image shows St. John the Evangelist dictating his Gospel to a scribe named Prokhorus. They are seated at the entrance to a cave in a rocky landscape. In the upper left is the hand of God and above St. John is his animal symbol as represented in the Orthodox tradition, namely, a winged lion within a circle of clouds. Prokhorus is writing the first words of John’s Gospel: “When all things began, the Word already was…” The landscape is a fanciful backdrop of jagged peaks represented in the Byzantine manner. The artist created an effective image of religious inspiration to aid the prayer and devotions of a spectator viewing this icon. For another icon with a similar frame, please see 2005.02.061; both works may be products of the same atelier.

St. John the Evangelist with the Scribe Prokhorus picture number 1