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Deesis, The

Object/Artifact
Brass folding icon with white, blue, red, and purple polychrome enamel. The left pane of this icon shows Mary the Mother of God on a dark red enamel background decorated with brass vine motifs. Her head is inclined to the right and covered in a maphorion with a star in the center of her forehead. In one hand she holds a tablet while the other is clasped to her chest. Christ is shown in the center panel on a background of light blue enamel. One hand is raised in the two finger blessing symbol and the other holds an open gospel. He is flanked by two Cyrillic captions. On the right panel is John the Baptist/Forerunner on a purple enamel background. He is adorned with brass wings and holds a basin with a small human figure representing Christ inside it as well as a tablet with inscriptions.

2005.02.112

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

19th Century

Inscription

John the Baptist's scroll

Cyrillic

"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"

This is a reference to the Last Supper, detailed in Matthew 26:26-28

Sticker

Back of center panel

950.00

Icon

Symbol, Religious

Religious Objects

Ceremonial Objects

Category 08: Communication Objects

5-1/2 in

15-1/4 in

Cast Brass

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Cultural/Historical Context

This half-length version of the Deesis is common on brass triptychs. Christ appears at center as the Pantocrator, bearing an open Gospel and giving a sign of benediction. The intercessors John the Forerunner (Baptist) and the Mother of God flank him, each holding a Gospel text. In addition to his scroll, John the Baptist carries a diskos or chalice in which the nude Christ child (representing the Eucharist) appears. John also is depicted with wings, a common motif in the Orthodox Church because he was said to be “like an angel.” The blue, red, and purple colors in the background of this icon are unusually light in hue. The figures are rendered in an elongated fashion with almond-shaped eyes and the haloes above them are perforated by white enamel circles.

Deesis, The picture number 1