Artwork: Dormition of the Virgin
Artist: Theophanes the Greek
Location: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
“A native of the Byzantine Empire - hence his nickname “the Greek” - Theophanes (c. 1370-1404) established himself in Muscovite Russia around 1390.
Byzantium and Russia both adhered to the Orthodox branch of Christianity and its tradition of of icon painting.
The dormition, or assumption into heaven, of the Virgin Mary was a recurring theme in Orthodox iconography. It was believed that the Virgin has been buried in the presence of all Christ’s apostles, but her tomb was later found to be empty. The traditional iconic representation of the event, which Theophanes follows, shows the lifeless Virgin surrounded by the apostles exhibiting various signs of grief. Behind them two Fathers of the Church wear Orthodox white liturgical robes with crosses. The scene is dominated by the powerful figure of Christ. He holds the Virgin’s soul, escaped from her body, in the form of a swaddled baby. The concept of the individual artist and his style is difficult to apply to icon painting, but Theophanes was reconiczed as an unusual in his approach. According to a contemporary account: “When he was drawing or painting . . . nobody saw him looking at existing exemples.” Instead he is descended as “considering inwardly what was lofty and wise and seeing the inner goodness with the eyes of his inner feelings.” The attribution of this icon panel to Theophanes is sometimes debated, but the colors, dramatic force, coherence of the composition, and a relative freedom of brushstroke mark it as distinctive.
This icon is an object of intense spiritual power.”(RG)
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