Icons of Esther, Ruth, Deborah, Rahab, and Mary Magdalene

These are the icons I was inspired to make after my iconography retreat in June 2023, they are my first attempt at painting non abstract human figures. 

First is the Mary Magdalene Icon, this is actually the top of a small box I painted to give to The Rev. Peyton Williams  at St. Andrews for her diaconate ordination in July. Inspired by Br. Robert Lentz’s Icon. Mary points at a red egg as well as the empty tomb, symbols for the resurrection. She holds lilies and roses, also associated with the resurrection, as well as Mary herself. She is dressed in red, which seems to be a common color for her depiction. The background has a night sky instead of the daytime as I knew that Rev. Peyton preferred earthtones. However there are three bright stars as homage both to the three days in the tomb at the end of Jesus' life, and the star that guided the Magi at the beginning of it. 

As for the other icons of Esther, Ruth, Deborah, and Rahab, I made these as practice and for myself. Each woman is seen holding an object associated with their story: a palm tree for the Judge Deborah, barley for Ruth, the red string and flax for Rahab, and finally a scroll for Esther with the saying “. . . for just such a time as this.”

The icons themselves are not very original in composition, Iconography itself is far more forgiving of copying an icon than most modern and contemporary art. In fact people say you learn Icons by tracing them. The ions were also frustrating in the way that working with gold leaf/foil in any format seems to be frustrating. I also wanted them to be perfect in order to honor the women I was depicting, by the last two icons I let that belief go. I made these icons in remembrance of women of faith before me. Though they would have different beliefs than I regarding Christ and the idea of God in a human form, they believed in the same God that I do, and I do not think that God is looking at my art for perfection. Rather I believe that God just may be looking at my art with love for even the littlest things I can accomplish.

In Peace,

Xi