The New Testament Trinity
Type:
Icon
Period:
The beginning of the
19 century
Toma Vishanov-Molera, born around 1750, painter of icons and murals, founder of the Bansko school of art. He grew up in the family of the clergyman Vishan. Around 1765 he went to Vienna, where he studied painting. It is not known who were his teachers there or when he returned to Bansko. His fellow villagers called him the Moler, Molera(from German Maler ‘painter’), whence the entire family's surname. Under the influence of the European 18th century art Toma Vishanov painted his works in a new manner, unknown until then in Orthodox art. The figures are realistic, vivid, expressive. Toma Vishanov is an innovator in the early period of Bulgarian Renaissance. His ideas on art were not understood and at first were rejected by his contemporaries. His work has not been studied extensively. He died after 1811 in Bansko.
Dimmensions (cm):
45
/ 29
Location
Country: Bulgaria
Private collection: Private collection
Source
Country: Bulgaria
Object identification notes
The icon has a painted frame in black and gold.
Description
The icon features God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. God the Father and Jesus Christ wear chitons and himations; the full-face figures sit on clouds. Jesus Christ holds a cross; the Father holds a scepter; there is a sphere under his hand.
Iconographical technique: Tempera
Base material: Wood
