Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Archangel Michael and the Crossing of the Red Sea
(Ethiopia)
Together with its companion, this work originally flanked the entrance to the "mäqdäs," or sanctuary, of an Ethiopian church, where it served as a guardian figure. Here, the archangel Michael acts a protector of the Jewish people. The Old Testament scene beneath him is divided into three parts. On the left, the Red Sea consumes Pharaoh and his army, while, on the right, Moses closes the waters with his staff. Below, Aaron's sister Miriam and another woman sing songs of praise. This object is one of only a handful of such monumental wall paintings that can be seen outside of Ethiopia.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Paul Stewart, London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Sam Fogg, London, 1988 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 2001, by purchase.
Exhibitions
| 2006-2007 | Angels of Light: Ethiopian Art from the Walters Art Museum. Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton; Museum of Biblical Art, New York. |
Geographies
Ethiopia (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 80 11/16 x W: 21 5/8 in. (205 x 55 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds provided by an anonymous donor, 2001
Location in Museum
Centre Street: Third Floor: Byzantine, Russian, and Ethiopian Icons
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
36.13.1
