1445 - A VERY RARE AND MONUMENTAL ICON DEPICTING 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 and partially restored. 71.3 x 56.5 cm. from Edessa, suffering from a severe 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 DEPICTING 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 and partially restored. 71.3 x 56.5 cm. from Edessa, suffering from a severe 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 DEPICTING THE MANDYLION AND THE LEGEND OF ABGAR Northern Russia, late 16th century. Assembly of three panels with two sponki on the reverse (lost). Kovcheg, egg tempera on a chalk ground. 71.3 x 56.5 cm. According to Christian tradition, King Abgar V of Edessa suffered from a serious illness. After learning of Christ’s miracles and healings, he sent a messenger to Jerusalem and asked Christ in a letter 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 to his face. His likeness was miraculously imprinted on the cloth. The cloth was brought to Edessa, where Abgar was healed by the holy image and professed the Christian faith. Color removed from the background and border; partial restorations.