The Holy Forefathers Joachim and Anna (c.1125 – c.1175) by Orthodox Icons

The Holy Forefathers Joachim and Anna - Orthodox Icons - c.1125 - c.1175

Artwork Information

TitleThe Holy Forefathers Joachim and Anna
ArtistOrthodox Icons
Datec.1125 - c.1175
Mediumtempera,wood
Art MovementNovgorod school of icon painting
Current LocationCathedral of St. Sophia, Novgorod, Russia

About The Holy Forefathers Joachim and Anna

The artwork titled “The Holy Forefathers Joachim and Anna” was created by an anonymous artist known as “Orthodox Icons” between approximately 1125 and 1175. It was crafted using tempera on wood and belongs to the Novgorod school of icon painting. This piece is classified under the genre of “icon” and is part of a series depicting saints. It is currently housed in the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod, Russia.

The artwork portrays the central figures of Joachim and Anna with a reverent and solemn demeanor, reflecting their holy status within the Orthodox Christian tradition. Joachim, depicted on the left, is dressed in a blue and gold tunic, his gaze directed upwards in a posture of supplication. Anna, on the right, is adorned in a red robe, her hands also raised in a gesture of prayer. Above them, an image of Christ is framed within a medallion, emanating a divine presence over the scene. The background and borders of the icon are dark, with additional, less distinct, figures positioned at the corners of the frame. The tempera medium lends the painting a luminous quality, characteristic of Novgorod iconography, with its emphasis on spirituality and transcendence. The aged condition of the wood and the paint conveys a sense of historical depth and religious devotion.

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