HOCHBEDEUTENDE IKONE: DIE HIMMLISCHE LITURGIE Kreta, Anfang 17. Jh. Laubholz-Einzeltafel mit zwei aufgenagelten Rückseiten-Sponki. Tempera auf Kreidegrund, auf Leinwand, Hintergrund, Gewänder und Nimben vergoldet. 62 x 52 cm. In der Mitte der Bildkomposition ist die Heilige Dreifaltigkeit dargestellt: Christus als Hohepriester, Gottvater und die weiße Taube als Symbol des Heiligen Geistes. Auf der Altartafel liegt das aufgeschlagene Evangelienbuch. Die zentralen Figuren werden von schwebenden, sich im Kreis bewegenden Himmelskräften mit liturgischen Geräten umgeben. Am unteren Rand sind Adam und Eva zu sehen, die dem himmlischen Geschehen beiwohnen. Am oberen Bildrand mit griechischem Bildtitulus. Die vielschichtige Ikonographie wurde durch den Ikonenmaler Michael Damaskenos unter dem Einfluss des Gemäldes Tizians 'Anbetung der Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit' (Prado, Madrid) nach dem Aufenthalt des Malers in Venedig (1574-1584) geschaffen. Die großformatige Ikone befindet sich heute in der Sammlung des Museums der Heiligen Katharina in Heraklion/ Kreta. Der Maler der vorliegenden Ikone übernahm alle ikonographischen Besonderheiten des Werks Damaskenos, die auf den venezianischen Manierismus zurückzuführen sind. Im Randbereich part. best., min. rest. Literatur: Ausstellungskatalog: D'un autre Monde, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Antwerpen 1997, Kat.-Nr. 123. Ausstellungskatalog: Griechische Ikonen der Insel Kreta XV-XVII., Rublev Museum, Moskau 2010, Kat 44. AN IMPORTANT ICON SHOWING THE DIVINE LITURGY Crete, early 17th century. Tempera on canvas, on wood panel with two nailed splints on the backside. Background, garments and halos gilded. At the centre is the Holy Trinity, consisting of God the Father turning with his upper body towards his Son, the Holy Spirit between them in the form of a dove, also turned towards Christ who is dressed as a Bishop. They sit above two fiery circles formed from seraphim and cherubim, on either side of the altar covered with a red cloth, blessing the angels who officiate at the Liturgy, cherubim represented as winged heads surround the Trinity. The heavenly host lighting the way with candelabra; between the Father and the Son, on the table, the scroll and books are shown open. Adam and Eve shown in the central foreground. Edges minimally chipped, minimally restored. 62 x 52 cm. The icon follows the traditional iconography of the Divine Liturgy, with the celestial throng standing above and below the clouds dressed in accordance with the rites of the Liturgy. They are gathered together in reverence and humility before the consecration of the bread and the wine, the bread represented by the body of Christ himself, which is born aloft to the altar, the wine by the chalice which is proffered to the figure of Christ at the centre of the icon and who forms the focal point of the composition. The subject of the Divine Liturgy was in all probability invented by the famous painter Michael Damaskinos (attested 1570-1591) under the influence of a painting by Tizian 'The adoration of the Holy Trinity' (Prado, Madrid). He painted a very similar composition in around the years 1579-1591 after his stay in Venice in 1574-1584. It formed part of a series of six panels made for the Monastery of St. Catherine in Irakleion and was part of a theological program emphasising the divinity of Christ. His icon of the Divine Liturgy, seems to have been the example for a number of icons with the same subject that were produced throughout the seventeenth and early eighteenth century. Each of these later panels offers a close variation on the Michael Damaskinos icon. They were made by other Cretan masters like Philotheos Skouphos, John Moskos and Theodorus Poulakis. Exhibited Exhibition Catalogue: D'un autre Monde, Musée des beaux-arts, Antwerp 1997, Cat. 123. Exhibition Catalogue: Greek icons from the isle Crete XV-XVII., Rublev Museum, Moscow 2010, Cat.44.