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painting

• Object type

  • painting

• Museum number

  Af1912,1120.5

• Description

  Painting on parchment depicting a religious procession of priests of the Ethiopian Church against a yellow background. The priest on the left carries a hand cross and censor. The priest (second left) carries on his head a Tabot which is veiled from view by a canopy of red velvet embroidered with cross motifs. Two other priests wear white shawls with red borders (shamma), one carries a processional cross and a hand cross while the other carries an umbrella. At the head of the procession is a white turbaned priest riding a brown horse. The horse has red leather headgear, crupper, saddle cloth and Ethiopian toe stirrup. The figure mounted on a white horse above the procession is Saint George. He wears a blue cloak (lemd) and a white shamma and carries a spear and gun. The horse has a red saddle cloth and Ethiopian toe stirrup and has a breaststrap, crupper and headgear decorated with silver ornaments which are indicative of the riders' high status. At the top of the painting, in a blue cloud, is a representation of the Holy Spirit.

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• Date

  • 19thC

• Production place

  • Made in: Ethiopia
  • (Africa,Ethiopia)

• Findspot

  • Found/Acquired: Ethiopia
  • (Africa,Ethiopia)

• Materials

  • parchment

• Dimensions

  • Length: 79 centimetres
  • Width: 65 centimetres

• Curator's comments

  Recorded in BM Temporary Register (1861-1921), p.140.

• Location

  On display: G66/west

• Condition

  Very good, small hole in left corner.

• Subjects

  • religious object (Tabot)
  • saint/martyr (Saint George)
  • procession
  • holy spirit
  • equestrian
  • cross

• Associated names

  • Representation of: St George
  • Representation of: Holy Spirit

• Associated events

  • Associated Event: Religious procession

• Acquisition name

  • Donated by: Mrs Cornelia Mary Speedy

• Acquisition date

  1912

• Department

  Africa, Oceania & the Americas

• Registration number

  Af1912,1120.5