Dormition of the Virgin, The

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Dormition of the Virgin, The

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.014

Description

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.

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

Place

* Untyped Place

Rostov, Yaroslavl Region [Russia]

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

1-5/8 in

Width

2 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

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.