LOT 0438

Russian Wooden Icon of Entry into Jerusalem

RUSSIA, 19TH CENTURY A.D.

12 1/8 x 14 1/8 in. (1.7 kg, 31 x 36 cm).

Painted on a wooden board with mounting slots and panels to the reverse, gessoed surface with painting of Christ entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding a donkey; crowd within the city wall waiting with palm fronds, two figures laying down cloaks for the donkey to walk on; followers of Christ in gateway, each with golden nimbus; Christ with similar and letters 'ω', 'C' reversed and 'Н'; Cyrillic script title above reciting: 'Entrance of the Lord in Jerusalem'; bands of gilt ornament to the borders and corners.

Ed Jackson Auctions USA.
From an important collection of icons.

See Turtsova, N.M., The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Series 'Russian icon. Images and symbols' (in Russian), St. Petersburg, 2014.

The scene, painted in the style of 19th century romantic painters, represents a well-known part of the Gospels that describe the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He makes a grand entrance into the city on a donkey to fulfil the prophesy of Zechariah, “Tell the city of Zion, look, your king is coming to you! He is humble and rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Christ is followed by his disciples and in the background citizens wave palm branches.