This splendid crucifixion painting is on show now in the British Museum (which will be holding an Ethiopian Day on May 3rd).
It’s just been restored, and it’s on show together with a reconstruction of the colours as they would have been when it was freshly painted - vibrant as it is, the original has faded.
Just looking at it you feel the energy of the composition. But what’s really interesting about it is that there are two stories here. There’s the crucifixion of course. You can see the centurion with the spear on the left of the cross, and the two crucified thieves to right and left.
But there’s also the story of Bishop Selama, who was head of the Ethiopian Church from 1841 to 1867, set around the edges of the painting, as well as other episodes from the Easter story. That creates a layered meaning, with multiple stories, so that you can see the whole history of the Ethiopian Church up to Selama’s day as a continuous tradition starting with the events of Easter week.
What I love most of all is the way all these scenes fit together in a sort of complex jigsaw. I’d not really come across Ethiopian art before, but this Tigrayan painting makes me want to see more.
Photo reproduced by courtesy of the British Museum
Tags: British Museum, Ethiopia
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