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| THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI Mid-16th century 131.5 x 90. Egg tempera on lime wood. From the Church of the Synaxis of Our Lady in the village of Busovysko, Lviv region. Lviv National Museum. # i-1552 175k, jpeg. The subject emerged under the influence of the Gospel according to St. Matthew and illustrates the event which took place in Nazareth. Due to various points of view spread in theological literature, this subject found several versions in art. According to one of them (like in this icon), the kings worship the Child already grown, in other versions, Jesus, newly born in Bethlehem (The Nativity). Definite iconography schemes of the subject were also influenced by Roman court ceremony. Though the Gospel mentions the Magi, the three kings are also often represented, like in this icon, and from the 9th century their names (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) appeared in Byzantine art. The representation of the subject in the Akathistos cycle promoted its popularity throughout the Ukraine. Thus, in the Akathistos cycle in St. Onuphrius' Church in the village of Lavriv, Lviv Region, there is fresco whose composition closely resembles that of the icon from the village of Busovysko. The icon, however, executed in epic forms, interprets the subject in detail. Its composition comprises two events which, in fact, took place at different times: the apotheosis of Christ and the adoration of the three kings who brought gifts (this episode is the major one in the composition and is emphasized by the scale of representation) and the event that preceded it - the kings preparing for the departure. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/lviv/Gallery/Room6.html |