1445 - A VERY RARE AND MONUMENTAL ICON SHOWING THE MANDYLION AND THE LEGEND OF ABGAR Northern Russian, late 16th century Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. The background and border have been stripped down to the levkas, partially restored. 71.3 x 56.5 cm. von Edessa an einer schweren According to Christian tradition, King Abgar V of Edessa suffered from a severe illness. Having heard of Christ's miracles and healings, he sent a messenger to Jerusalem with a letter asking Christ to come to Edessa and heal him. In later versions of the legend, the messenger is identified as Ananias, who is also said to have been commissioned to paint the face of Christ. When Ananias was unable to capture Christ's features, Christ is said to have washed his face and pressed a cloth against it, upon which his image was miraculously imprinted. The cloth was brought to Edessa, where Abgar was healed through the sacred image and converted to the Christian faith.

A VERY RARE AND MONUMENTAL ICON SHOWING THE MANDYLION AND THE LEGEND OF ABGAR Northern Russian, late 16th century Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. The background and border have been stripped down to the levkas, partially restored. 71.3 x 56.5 cm. von Edessa an einer schweren According to Christian tradition, King Abgar V of Edessa suffered from a severe illness. Having heard of Christ's miracles and healings, he sent a messenger to Jerusalem with a letter asking Christ to come to Edessa and heal him. In later versions of the legend, the messenger is identified as Ananias, who is also said to have been commissioned to paint the face of Christ. When Ananias was unable to capture Christ's features, Christ is said to have washed his face and pressed a cloth against it, upon which his image was miraculously imprinted. The cloth was brought to Edessa, where Abgar was healed through the sacred image and converted to the Christian faith. SEHR SELTENE UND MONUMENTALE IKONE MIT DEM MANDYLION UND DER ABGAR-LEGENDE Nordrussland, Ende 16. Jh. Verbund dreier Bretter mit zwei Rückseiten-Sponki (verloren). Kowtscheg, Eitempera auf Kreidegrund. 71,3 x 56,5 cm. Der christlichen Überlieferung zufolge litt König Abgar V. von Edessa an einer schweren Krankheit. Nachdem er von den Wundertaten und Heilungen Christi erfahren hatte, sandte er einen Boten nach Jerusalem und ließ Christus in einem Brief bitten, nach Edessa zu kommen und ihn zu heilen. In späteren Fassungen der Legende wird der Bote als Ananias bezeichnet, der zugleich den Auftrag erhalten haben soll, das Antlitz Christi zu malen. Als es Ananias nicht gelang, die Züge Christi wiederzugeben, soll Christus sein Gesicht gewaschen und ein Tuch an sein Antlitz gedrückt haben. Auf diesem habe sich auf wundersame Weise sein Ebenbild eingeprägt. Das Tuch wurde nach Edessa gebracht, wo Abgar durch das heilige Bild Heilung erfuhr und sich zum christlichen Glauben bekannte. Farbe des Hintergrundes und Randes abgenommen, partielle Restaurierungen.