Painting Item Number: Ca42 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Rectangular goatskin with painting at centre and goat hair border. The painting is bordered in red with a white design. The scene is of St. George sitting on a horse. He is using a long spear to kill a green and white dragon. There is blue sky, a yellow-green field and a woman grasping a tree above the dragon. There is also amharic writing on both sides of St. George and on the lower left.
History Of Use
Traditional painting has roots in the 8th century. Today painting is mainly for tourist sale, although most homes have a depiction of a religious legend. Generally these paintings are in bright colours in cartoon style with a few words of explanation. Before canvas and paper were common, goatskin and wood were used. Also found in churches.
Cultural Context
religion; decorative
Iconographic Meaning
The spear symbolizes strength of the good destroying evil (dragon). The halo indicates holiness.
Item History
- Made in Ethiopia before 1974
- Collected during 1974
- Owned by Lemma Admasu before December 27, 1979
- Received from Lemma Admasu (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on December 27, 1979
What
- Name
- Painting
- Identification Number
- Ca42
- Type of Item
- painting
- Overall
- height 79.0 cm, width 72.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Amhara
- Previous Owner
- Lemma Admasu
- Received from
- Lemma Admasu (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Ethiopia
When
- Creation Date
- before 1974
- Collection Date
- during 1974
- Ownership Date
- before December 27, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on December 27, 1979
Other
- Item Classes
- paintings
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0587/0010