Name: icon "Myrrhbearers"

Author: unknown

Date: beginning of the 19th century

Country: Ukraine 

Technique/material: oil on panel

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

Description:

The scene depicted in the icon narrates the first testimony of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the day next day after  Easter, faithful followers of Jesus, women, came to his tomb to anoint his dead body with myrrh, according to the customs. These women had been with him in his final journey and remained faithful to their teacher even when the apostles were afraid. Among these women, the Evangelists mention Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, Salome, and others.

On the icon, to the right, an empty tomb is depicted with the lid removed, and an angel in a white garment is shown on top of it. The angel conveys the news of Jesus’s resurrection to the women. In the right part of the icon, we see a group of three women. The first of them is holding a vessel with myrrh.

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