Artwork

Saviour Made Without Hands

Saviour Made Without Hands, by Unknown, tempera, 1150
Saviour Made Without Hands, by Unknown, tempera, 1150

Saviour Made Without Hands is a tempera painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1150 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

About this work

Overview

The Saviour Made Without Hands is a tempera painting depicting a face, likely Jesus Christ, within a circular frame.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, with long hair and beard, is shown with downcast eyes and a closed mouth, conveying a contemplative or introspective mood. The image is set against a gold background, a common symbol of divinity in religious art.

Technique & Style

The painting is executed in tempera, a medium that involves mixing pigments with a binding agent, resulting in a work with notable depth and texture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Tretyakov Gallery open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.