Object Details
- Aläqa Gabra Selasse, early 1900s - 1986, born Ethiopia
- Label Text
- Saint George is often depicted in Ethiopian religious art. As in this painting he can be the sole subject or as in many icons be paired opposite the Virgin Mary and Christ child. In modern popular art, he floats in medallions over battle scenes commemorating the victory at Adwa over the Italian army.
- Aläqa Gabra Selasse depicts the saint in a traditional style--on a white horse, slaying a serpent like dragon, rescuing the princess in a tree. Most of the artist's works have a religious theme due to his role as a priest, scribe and painter. However by painting on cardboard rather than wood, he can make his work more affordable and portable, thus appealing to new secular patrons both local and foreign.
- Description
- Tempera on cardboard of a man with a round shield and a spear on a rearing white horse over a serpent like dragon. Next to the man's head is a woman's head in an oval of green representing a treetop. Below the man's proper right arm is a box with ge'ez script. Additional writing appears along the bottom of the painting under the horse's hooves.
- Exhibition History
- African Mosaic: Selections from the Permanent Collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., (installed November 19, 2013-March 13, 2017)
- Hope College, Holland, Michigan, October 2001
- Gäbrä Selasse: Ethiopian Icon Painter, Gallery 210, University of Missouri, Saint Louis, October 2000
- Published References
- Heldman, Marilyn E. 2000. Gäbrä Selasse: Ethiopian Icon Painter. Gallery 210. St. Louis: University of Missouri, cover.
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Credit Line
- Gift of an anonymous donor in memory of Louis Gilden
- ca. 1973
- Object number
- 2006-3-13
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Tempera on cardboard
- Dimensions
- H x W: 37.5 x 26 cm (14 3/4 x 10 1/4 in.)
- Geography
- Ethiopia
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- equestrian
- snake
- weapon
- Writing
- shield
- horse
- female
- Record ID
- nmafa_2006-3-13
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7818a75c0-593d-4107-88ba-43f8d3305339
