Name: predella “The Giving of the Keys to St. Peter”

Author: Ivan Rutkovych (?)

Date: 1685

Country: Ukraine 

Technique/material: tempera and silver gilt on panel

The predella is part of the iconostasis exhibited in the museum "Stara Skvaryava iconostasis of the XVI-XVIII centuries"

Description:

The predella "The Giving of the Keys to St. Peter" is placed beneath the icon of Christ the Saviour. Like the previous predella depicting Moses and the Burning Bush, it is thematically related to the icon of the Sovereign tier, which depicts Christ seated on a pedestal. Christ blesses St. Peter and hands him two keys (traditionally symbolizing the keys to Heaven and Hell), while St. Peter is portrayed as a shepherd among sheep. He is respectfully kneeling, with his hands folded on his chest, holding a pastoral staff in the other hand. The plot of the icon is based on two fragments of Holy Scripture: the first, from Matthew 16:19, where Christ tells Peter about the power he gives him to forgive sins: “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven”. The second passage (John 21:16-17) explains why St. Peter is depicted as a shepherd with sheep. In this passage it is said, Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, and three times he asked Peter if he loves him, instructing him to feed his sheep. The author of the icon inscribed a paraphrased version of this scripture in the upper left corner of the icon.

Like on the other predella, the composition of the icon is also borrowed from a Western graphic model.

The execution date of the icon is August 20, 1685, recorded on the icon to the right.

The description was prepared by Roman Zilinko, art historian, icon painter