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From the collection of National Museum of African Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
While Mary is most often depicted wearing a blue shawl, Ethiopian artists in the mid-16th century began painting the shawl red, a practice that related to their study of Cretan icons. The Ge'ez inscriptions found on the icons are instrumental in identifying specific individuals. For instance, St. Merkorewos traditionally rides a black, not a white horse; and the two monks holding prayer sticks are almost identical.
National Museum of African Art’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineIcon. Early 16th century. Ethiopian Orthodox. National Museum of African Art, Gift of Mary Garland in memory of Robert Lewis Garland. CC0.
