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Dormition of the Virgin, The

Painting
Enamel painting on copper plate backed in dark mauve or brown velvet. The central image shows the Virgin clothed in pink maphorion veil and blue robes laying on a white burial shroud while male and female mourners surround her. One mourner on the left holds a swinging ball of incense. In the back, Christ stands holding the white shrouded soul of the Virgin and a Cyrillic caption is written above him. Two white houses with pink roofs are in either upper corner of the image.

2005.02.014

Panel

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

19th Century

Rostov, Yaroslavl Region [Russia]

Icon

Symbol, Religious

Religious Objects

Ceremonial Objects

Category 08: Communication Objects

1-5/8 in

2 in

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Cultural/Historical Context

This diminutive plaque, suspended by a hook at the top, represents a condensed, provincial version of the Dormition theme. The essential iconographic elements are present, with Christ’s mandorla depicted as numerous rays of light emanating from this figure, and with two plain buildings appearing in the background. The figures have shortened, doll-like proportions, and bright colors of pink and green predominate along with gold in the haloes. There is no room for the angels usually seen with Christ.

Dormition of the Virgin, The picture number 1