PELICAN ICON Ukraine, late 19th - early 20th century oil on canvas mounted on wood 39 x 31 cm The image of the pelican is one of the earliest Christian symbols, personifying Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself on the Cross for the salvation of human souls, like the pelican bird, which feeds (resuscitates) its chicks with its blood. The image of the pelican has reappeared in the literary monuments of Western Europe since the Middle Ages. The iconography of this image subsequently developed. ICON 'PELICAN Ukraine, late 19th - early 20th century oil on canvas laid on wood 39 x 31 cm The image of the Pelican belongs to the early Christian symbols, personifying Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself on the Cross for the salvation of human souls like the bird Pelican, who feeds (resurrects) his chicks with his blood. The image of Pelican reappears in literary monuments of Western Europe since the Middle Ages. The iconography of this image was later developed there.