Icon
Ethiopian Orthodox style
c. 1750-1855
Distemper and gesso on wood
98-3-2, gift of Ciro R. Taddeo

Left panel
top Left to right: "St. Mary," "Our God is crucified" and "St. John" the Evangelist
middle
Four apostles or saints
bottom
"St. George" and the dragon

Center panel
"St. Mary with Her Beloved Son" flanked by the archangels "St. Michael" (left) and "St. Gabriel" (right)

Right panel
top
"Painting of Resurrection" (the Descent into Limbo), "Adam and Eve"
middle
Four apostles or saints
bottom
Four apostles or saints

The rich colors, especially the green and deep blue, are typical of this time period in Ethiopian icon painting. The emphasis on Mary's hand gesture, the Christ child's book and the shawl's decorative folds and star and cross ornaments derive from a Jesuit copy of an Italian engraving of a Santa Maria Maggiore icon. Mary's handkerchief, however, is an Ethiopian status symbol.

Translations (words in "quotes") of Ge'ez inscriptions found on the icons are courtesy Daniel Berhanemeskel.