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
Type of Painting
Panel
Collection
Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection
Acquisition
Accession
2005.02
Source or Donor
Betsy Scheuring
Acquisition Method
Gift
Credit Line
Gift of Betsy Scheuring
Made/Created
Time Period
19th Century
Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Label
Location
Back of icon
Transcription
27 sticker
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Icon
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Symbol, Religious
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Religious Objects
Nomenclature Class
Ceremonial Objects
Nomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects
Dimensions
Height
4-5/16 in
Width
3 in
Exhibition
Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)
Interpretative Labels
Label Type
Cultural/Historical Context
Label
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.
