The artwork titled “Elijah Meets the Sarepta Widow (from Hagiographic cycle of detail of ‘Prophet Elijah in the desert’)” was created by Orthodox Icons between circa 1275 and circa 1325. This tempera-on-wood piece belongs to the Pskov school of icon painting, identified with the Romanesque art movement. It is categorized as an icon and is part of the “Saints” series. The artwork is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts a significant biblical event wherein the prophet Elijah encounters the widow of Sarepta. The scene is presented in a traditional iconographic manner, characteristic of the Pskov school, with figures rendered in a stylized yet expressive form. Elijah, marked distinctively by his halo, stands gesturally as he addresses the widow, who is draped in red attire. The background is composed of resplendent hues with intricate detailing, evidencing the age and historical reverence accorded to icons of this period. The aged and cracked surface of the wood panels underscores the historical authenticity and the enduring nature of the medium.
