John the Forerunner, with scenes fro his life

Iconography:  John the Forerunner, prophet and baptist

Date: XVI century. First half of the XVIth century

Origin: from the Trinity church in the village of Nyonoks of the Archangelskaya region

Material: Wood, cut-back central portion, canvas, levkas, tempera

Dimensions:  height 122 cm, width 85 cm

In the centerpiece is shown waist-length depiction of John the Forerunner with the folded scroll in his left hand, while his right hand is raised at the level of the chest. The centerpiece is surrounded by 16 scenes of his life (the inscriptions are lost). Border scenes: 1. Apparition of the angel to Zachariah; 2. Conception of John the Forerunner; 3. Nativity of John the Baptist; 4. Naming; 5. Zachariah being slaughtered; 6. The angel leads child John to the desert; 7. Elizabeth hides John in the mountain; 8. Conviction of Herod; 9. Sermon to people; 10. Conviction of the Pharisees; 11. Beheading of John the Forerunner; 12. Entombment of John the Forerunner; 13. Feast of Herod; the head of John the Forerunner is brought to the feast; 14. Apparition of John the Forerunner to the two monks in their dream; 15. First finding of the head of John the Forerunner; 16. Apparition of John the Forerunner to hegumen Marcellus (second finding of the head of John the Forerunner).

Registration number ДРЖ-2124. © State Museum Association «Art Culture of the Russian North»

Bibliography:
Иконы Русского Севера. Шедевры древнерусской живописи Архангельского музея изобразительных искусств. М., 2007. Т.1. С. 132-135. № 26.

  • General view
  • Centrepiece