The New Testament Trinity with the Mother of God

Produced in Greek Asia Minor, 18th century
Triptych, tempera and gold leaf on gold panel
Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos
Title as provided by the Rubin Museum, New York City

The upper part of the central panel is an Orthodox adaptation of the iconographic type that places the Son with a cross at the right hand of the Father, with the dove representing the Holy Spirit between them. Two features that distinguish Orthodox from Latin versions of this type are the book in the Son's hand and the geometric frame that separates the dove from the other figures. Inclusion of a mappa mundi globe somewhere in the composition is common in both East and West.

The orant figure in the lower part of the panel is the Virgin Mary (labeled in Greek MP ΘV, short for "Mother of God," and with stars on her forehead and shoulders). Given the orant stance it is likely that she also represents the prayers of the Church.

The horsemen on the left and right panels are St. George and St. Theodore, the former vanquishing a dragon and the latter impaling the neck of the Emperor Diocletian.

Read more about images of the Trinity. Read more about images of St. George. Read more about images of St. Theodore.

Photographed at the Rubin Museum, New York City, by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.