Portable Triptych Icon: The Crucifixion

1600s

Byzantium. Russia, Moscow?, Byzantine period, 17th century

Medium

painted wood panel within enameled brass frame

Measurements

Unframed: 6.5 x 6.2 x 0.7 cm (2 9/16 x 2 7/16 x 1/4 in.); Closed: 7.3 x 6.9 x 3.4 cm (2 7/8 x 2 11/16 x 1 5/16 in.); Open and extended: 7 x 19.1 cm (2 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Harry F. Stratton 1961.35.b

You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Location

Not on view

Description

This triptych icon was probably commissioned by a lay person for private prayer and meditation. It could be folded and shut when not in use. The scenes represented from left to right are: The Crucifixion (left); The Resurrection and Anastasis (center); and Adoration of the Miracle-Working Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God (right). Small portable icons such as this were common to later Russian religious practice.