A Veiled Beauty of Constantinople by Frederick Arthur Bridgman, 1880, oil on canvas, 35.6 x 25.4 cm, Private collection

23silence:

Frederick Arthur Bridgman (1847-1928) - A Veiled Beauty of Constantinople, 1880

(via jaded-mandarin)

Anastasis (The Harrowing of Hell), 1310-20, fresco, Church of the Holy Saviour, Chora, Constantinople

In the Anastasis we see Jesus, descended into Hell (Sheol). He tramples the gates of ‘Hell,’ and beneath them lie shattered locks and keys. Darkly visible, Death lies bound and conquered, a captive.  Grabbing them firmly by the wrists, a vigorous Jesus forcefully yanks out Adam & Eve.  Adam is the oldest man in the picture, the patriarch.  Following Adam are old King David (now there’s an expert sinner…can you say Uriah and Bathsheba?  The kids know the story), young King Solomon, and John the Baptist (the ‘Forerunner’), whose long hair gives him away.  Waiting their turn behind Eve is her son Abel (the ‘Protomartyr’) with his shepherd’s crook, and (I’m guessing) Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah. (source)