Christianity was established in Ethiopia by the fourth century A.D., and the Ethiopian Church's strong link to Eastern Orthodox Christianity can be seen in the use of icons. As in Byzantine art, the figures are motionless in posture, but they have Ethiopian features.
The central panel of this icon shows the Virgin and Child flanked by the archangels Gabriel and Michael. The left panel depicts Saint George slaying the dragon, above, and Takla Haymonat and Ewostatewas, two local saints, below. On the right panel, the Resurrection is represented as Christ releasing Adam and Eve from Limbo, an account of which is found in the Apocrypha of the Bible.
Ethiopian icons are usually commissioned and donated to churches by patrons seeking to ensure their salvation. Icons often include an image of the donors as worshippers.
The central panel of this icon portrays Christ wearing a crown of thorns and being mocked before Pontius Pilate. Below are the husband and wife who commissioned the icon. The left panel commemorates a feast day of Saint Mary and another unidentified event. The upper part of the panel on the right shows a local saint, Abo, with a dove and pairs of lions and leopards. The lower part depicts the entombment of Christ.
Catalogue Description:
Side A: Virgin and child in central panel flanked on either side by scenes of Crucifixion. Ascension of Christ, St. George and the dragon, and figures representing possibly the servants of St. George. There are inscriptions over the heads of some figures. Colors are mainly blue, yellow, red, and green. Side B: Central panel is scene of Christ in majesty with radiating nimbus surrounded by sleeping figures and on side panels figures of Ethiopian saints, scene of the raising of Lazarus (possibly), a shepard and an Ethiopian King. Colors are mainly yellow, red and blue. Condition: All painted surfaces in need of stabilization. Condition is fragile. Linen worn especially at edges.
