Artwork

Profeten Elias, i rød kjortel, violet gevandt og hvid turban, taler til den sunamitiske kvinde

Profeten Elias, i rød kjortel, violet gevandt og hvid turban, taler til den sunamitiske kvinde is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

The canvas depicts a biblical encounter on a craggy shoreline: a bearded prophet in a white robe and turban holds a staff and gestures toward a kneeling woman wrapped in a dark cloak over a light dress. A younger onlooker in a plain tunic watches from behind. A modest boat drifts on the water, while a cave is cut into the cliff above the figures.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates the Old Testament narrative of the prophet Elijah visiting the Shunammite woman, who had offered him hospitality. In the story, Elijah promises her a son and later returns to restore the child’s life. The painting captures the moment of Elijah’s address, emphasizing themes of faith, hospitality, and divine intervention.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil on canvas, the work employs a muted palette of earth tones contrasted with the bright white of the prophet’s robe and the violet turban, creating visual focus on the central figure. The composition uses a shallow depth of field, with the rocky shore and distant boat rendered in looser brushwork, while the figures are detailed with precise modeling.

History & Provenance

The painting’s origin, date, and creator remain undocumented in the available records. It entered the collection of a Danish museum in the early twentieth century through a private donation, and has since been displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of religious genre works.