UNKNOWN ICON PAINTER, Russian
(early 16th century)

Resurrection of Christ and the Harrowing of Hell

1500-10
Egg tempera on wood, 131 x 104 cm
Ikonen-Museum, Recklinghausen

Easter is the high point of the liturgical calendar and for this reason the Easter image is accorded a central position in the decoration of churches with mural paintings or mosaics, as well as in the iconostases, where the Easter icon is an established part of the Feast-day Tier. This large icon, however, did not form part of any Feast-day Tier, but was without any doubt the dedication icon of some "church of the Resurrection", and thus placed in the Local Tier of the iconostasis.