RUSSIAN ICON OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS, 19TH C. In this interesting composition we see the three Patriarchs, Isaac, Abraham and Jacob, seated in the Garden of Paradise. The unusual plants seen growing in the background illustrate the garden aspect. On each lap and behind them are small children dressed in white representing the souls of the righteous. The scriptural basis for this icon is probably Matthew 8:1 "And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven." Also Luke 16:22 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." The sun, shown upper left, and the moon upper right represents the cosmos. Along the top border above a bank of clouds (Mstera? Kholui?) is the Lord Sabaoth whose halo bears the eight-pointed Glory. On the left border is the Venerable Evdokia and on the right the female saint, Zinoida. 12 inches x 10 inches (30.5 x 25.5 cm).

Provenance:
A private American collection since 1999 or before.

Literature:
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center Windows into Heaven, Russian Icons, 1550-1917, Washington D.C. 2003, exhibition catalog, where illustrated.
Knights of Columbus Museum Holy Icons of Mother Russia New Haven, Connecticut, 2002-2003, exhibition catalog, where illustrated.

Exhibited:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. Ave Maria Foundation "Heaven on Earth, The Holy Art of Imperial Russia 1650-1917" February 7, 2001-March 21, 2001
Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A. Heartland Orthodox Christian Museum "Spiritual Treasures of Czarist Russia" September 1, 2001-October 1, 2001
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. Pontifical College Josephinum "Heaven on Earth" icon exhibition January 11, 2002-February 10, 2002
New Haven, Connecticut U.S.A. Knights of Columbus Museum, "Holy Icons of Mother Russia" icon exhibition October 2, 2002-January 31, 2003.
Washington D.C. U.S.A. Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, "Windows into Heaven, Russian Icons, 1550-1917" June 5th, 2003-August 7th, 2028

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