The Ascent of Prophet Elijah 1300

This panel depicting The Ascent of Prophet Elijah was made by Orthodox Icons using tempera on wood. Icons like this were central to the Orthodox Christian faith, serving as windows into the divine. The painstaking process of creating them—from preparing the wooden panel to layering paint and gilding—was considered a sacred act. The iconographer, deeply immersed in prayer, would adhere to established conventions, using specific pigments and techniques passed down through generations. The colours would have been derived from minerals, plants, and insects, all carefully ground and mixed with egg yolk to bind them to the wooden panel. Note the reverse perspective in this icon, common in this style, where lines diverge rather than converge. The creation of icons was a labour of devotion, a testament to the transformative power of materials and making. By understanding these material processes, we gain insight into the rich cultural and spiritual significance of these images, and the historical context of the icon.