SACRED ART GALLERY
Item Details
Item 47
The Resurrection of Christ
19th century
Egg tempera on wood panel
13.5” x 11”
James and Tatiana Jackson Collection
 

The Resurrection is the most important festival in the Eastern Orthodox Church. This icon illustrates the traditional depiction of the Easter theme. Here Christ is seen descending into Hades to free the Old Testament righteous men and women held there in captivity. Only hinted at in the New Testament (I Peter 3:19), this imagery comes largely from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. Christ stands atop the broken gates of Hades. He reaches down to grasp the hand of Adam; Eve kneels at lower right. Other figures rise and walk forth from bondage making their way to the gates of heaven which are depicted at upper right. Many are identified by their names which are written within their haloes. They include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, King David, King Solomon, and John the Forerunner, also Rachel, Sara and Rebecca. A red six-winged seraph guards the heavenly gates. The figure wearing a loin cloth and holding a cross at the entrance to Heaven is the “Good Thief,” shown again inside meeting Elijah and Enoch. In the upper left corner is a post-resurrection scene. Peter sees the linen grave clothes lying empty, and above an angel speaks to the “Myrrh-Bearing Women.” The inscription along the top border clearly identifies the subject as “Voskresenie Khristovo” (The Resurrection of Christ).