Jesus is Born - Salome Embraces Him

 

Unidentified

 

early 20th century 

painting on vellum 

4 7/16 x 6 7/16" image size 

unsigned 

1 of 1 unique 

titled in Amharic/Ge'ez along top: Jesus is born - Salome embraces Him; untranslated text along bottom right 

 

goatskin vellum 

 

 

21716 

Price On Request 

An Ethiopian religious Orthodox Christian scene depicting Salome with the Holy Family. Painted on goatskin vellum, probably in the 20th century, this piece is a fine example of Ethiopia's long and luminous tradition of illuminated manucript art. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity traces its roots back to the fourth century A.D. As Christian text was translated in Ge'ez, the liturgical language of Ethiopia, a unique thread of imagery emerged that combined Eastern Orthodox Christian writings and native legend. By the fourteenth century, Ethiopian bookmanship was highly developed, and to this day Ethiopian artisans create iluminated manuscripts using a style unique to the region.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Salome is commemorated on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers.