Vision of prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel

Iconography:  The vision of the prophet Isaiah, The vision of the prophet Ezekiel

Date: XVIII century. Second half of the 18th century

Origin: From the Voskresensky Kirillo-Novoezersky monastery, island Krasniy in the Belozersky district, Novgorodskaya region (now island Ognenniy near the village of Karl Liebknecht, Belozersky district, Vologodskaya region). The monastery was founded in 1517 by Venerable Cyril Beliy of Novoezersk (+1532).

Material: Wood, tempera

Dimensions:  height 38,4 cm, width 32 cm

In the last quarter of the 17th century in the northern monasterial and suburb temples appeared the icons of allegoric and symbolic character the iconography of which was based on the engraving with the same subject matter. Vision of prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel from Kirillo-Novoezersky monastery belongs to the same type of icons painted by the local iconographers.

The name given by the author – “Образ угль Исайя проявлейся солнце”. Using the texts of the books of prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel (Isaiah,6; Ezekiel, 1) the iconographer reproduces a peculiar theocratic vision of the universe where the Old Testament basic ideas are interlaced with the New Testament spirit and enlivened with the evangelic sparkle. In the centre of this universe is Sun – Jesus Christ emanating the life-giving light of faith in all the four directions of the universe with the symbols of the four evangelists shown. Like the sun enveloping the earth with its mild pink colors Christ’s doctrine awakens people to the new life and gives them a hope of salvation.

Was deposited in 1928.

Restoration: the Vologda branch of the All-Russian Art Scientific and Restoration Center named after I.E. Grabar, 1992, restorer – Kalacheva L.Ya.

Inv. №361/329. © Cherepovets Museum Association.

Bibliography: 

1.Куликова О.В. Древние лики Русского Севера. Из музейного собрания икон XIV-XIX веков города Череповца. М., 2009. Кат. № 87 (Илл. 88).

2. Рыбаков А. А. Вологодская икона. Центры художественной культуры земли Вологодской XIII–XVIII веков. М.., 1995. № 46.           

  • General view
  • Mullion. A fragment