Framed Watercolour Painting

Comprising two recessed panels, the left hand panel showing biblical scenes divided into two panels: in the upper panel the deposition of Christ in the tomb and the Resurrection of God, holding a flag in his left hand and grasping the hand of Adam with the right; in the lower panel the flagellation of Christ and the road to the Calvary; Ge'ez inscriptions on the field; the right hand panel showing the Crucifixion, Ge'ez inscriptions on the field. 946 grams total, 32.5 x 21.5 - 33 x 21.5 cm



Ex Alistair McAlpine collection, 2004. Ex central London gallery.

The icon shows Western influence on Ethiopian art. The Crucifixion image contains many elements of this iconography which are found in many Oriental and Western art of the Middle Ages, but with significant changes from the previous representations: Jesus is nailed with three nails and not four, the head leaning towards his right shoulder and the hair falling on his shoulders. Following the Western influence, Christ is represented in a spasm of physical pain, and consequently a more detailed anatomy of his chest and abdomen is depicted. This concept of the Crucifixion, common in the Italian Late Middle Age and Renaissance art, found its way to Ethiopia at some time towards the end of the 15th century, or at the beginning of the 16th century. As in the majority of the Resurrection icons of this period, Christ is dressed in a long robe with a cloak or toga draped over one shoulder.

With waisted body, bulbous shoulder, everted rim, collared stem and tiered splayed foot, ornamented in repoussé bulbs and ogival ribs; lid with openwork rim of palmettes and foliate forms, central domes, finial with basket of palmettes, oval bulb above ornamented in pellets between spiral band, surmounted by a statuette, modelled in the round as Saint George, clad in armour, driving a spear into the dragon, with naturalistic detailing to the saint's features; various stamps to base; finial repaired. 613 grams, 43.6cm

Fine condition, finial repaired.

From the Deutsch collection, Germany. Ex central London gallery.

Rectangular panel with carved design of flowers, berries and fruit; all modelled in high relief with gentle curvature and deep undercuts; mounted on a fabric-covered backing board. 2.1 kg, 74.5 cm



Private collection, London, UK.

Grinling Gibbons (4 April 1648 – 3 August 1721) was an Anglo-Dutch wood-carver who became famous for his work in Windsor Castle, St Paul's Cathedral and some other London churches, and various major buildings of the time. He was born in Holland to English parents, and his father was a merchant while Gibbons himself became a member of the Drapers' Company of London. He is usually regarded as the finest wood-carver of his day in England.