Extraordinary Greek triptych from the late 15th - first16th century

An extraordinary medieval triptych, painted in tempera on wood, created in southern Greece, a masterpiece by an artist from the Peloponnese under Venetian rule.

It is a work of exceptional beauty and rarity, a document of great artistic and historical importance, a link between Eastern and Western Christianity, capable of moving any scholar or collector of ancient religious art.

It consists of a central panel in the shape of a tabernacle and two side doors, which close like a book with small hinges.

The opening of the doors is astonishing and immediately arouses interest and wonder, as does their preciousness.

The central panel depicts 15 scenes from the Bible and the Gospels, while the two side doors house images of the most important saints venerated by Eastern Christianity.

The scenes are countless, rich in figures and extremely interesting details.

The two small doors, painted on a golden background, illustrate an unusual iconography of this extraordinary historical moment.

A rare example is the image of Saint Christopher Cynocephalus, or "Dog's Head," of Greco-Byzantine origin. This representation was strictly forbidden by the Council of Trent in the 16th century, leading to the disappearance of all ancient frescoes depicting him.

The figures of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena, placed on either side of the Cross, are also rare and of great importance. Constantine was the first great Roman emperor of the Christian faith, and his famous edict liberalized the cult of Christ in 313 AD. 330 BC

(The Roman Emperor Constantine founded the city of Constantinople in 330 AD, naming it "Nova Roma," thus moving the Roman Empire eastward. The city became the political, economic, cultural, and religious center of all Europe and over the centuries took the name Byzantium, becoming present-day Istanbul after its conquest by Mehmet II.)

The ancient image of Saint Eustace, a Christian martyr who lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries, is also of exceptional interest. Its story, shrouded in legend, tells the tale of a valiant Roman centurion named Placidus, who converted to Christianity after having a vision of a talking deer with a crucifix between its antlers while hunting. This vision urged him not to torment it, for it was a messenger of Jesus Christ. Having become a Christian, he took the name Eustace, and his unwavering faith was punished by martyrdom at the hands of Emperor Hadrian.

The depiction of the holy princes of kyiv, Boris and Gleb, sons of Vladimir the Great, riding their steeds, however, is typically Russian.

The central panel depicts the following episodes:

- The Deposition of Christ from the Cross.

- The Resurrection of Christ at the Holy Sepulchre.

- Abraham and the sacrifice of his son Isaac, held by the angel.

- The Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday).

- The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.

- The Presentation of Jesus to the High Priest in the Temple (Circumcision of Christ).

- The Birth of the Virgin Mary.

- The Raising of Lazarus (Christ's first great miracle).

- Christ in the Garden of Olives receives the bitter cup of the Passion from the hands of the Angel.

- The Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse (War, Famine, and Death).

- The Adoration of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

- The Transfiguration of Christ before his beloved apostles, Peter, James, and John.

- The Kiss of Judas.

- The Massacre of the Innocents ordered by Herod (who forces the Holy Family to flee to Egypt).

- The Funeral of Saint Jerome.

The work dates from the late 15th and mid-16th centuries and is in very good condition for its period.

The paintings are intact, without any restoration, and remain perfectly legible.

Dimensions: closed 38 x 68 cm, open 76 x 68 cm