God the Father

This artwork presents an image of God the Father executed on a wooden panel, which compositionally belonged to the architectural and decorative embellishment of a church interior. The wide rectangular plinth transitions smoothly into resilient sides terminating in large spiral volutes. The compositional centre of the work is occupied by a circular medallion featuring a half-length depiction of God the Father, adorned with scrolls and surmounted by a crown. The image of the Creator is embodied by a grey-haired man with a magnificent long beard and wavy hair. His face, modelled graphically without harsh accents, radiates wise serenity and focus. The gaze is direct and balanced, predisposed to prayerful contemplation while conveying a sense of eternity and Divine presence. His hands are outspread and raised with palms facing outwards – a gesture combining blessing, openness, and patronage. God the Father is clad in a blue-grey himation over a terracotta chiton. The folds of the garments are rendered with contrasting graphic lines that simulate volume. The light background of the medallion creates an effect of internal radiance. A special place in the artistic design of the work is held by the carved decoration. The circular medallion is enveloped by a fluid ornament of C-scrolled and S-scrolled elements, which establish a unified, organic, and festive plastic rhythm. They glimmer with a warm, worn sheen against the dark field. This contrast infuses the image with monumentality and drama. The artwork combines voluminous decorative carving and painting, with the carving ultimate completing the image and highlighting the sacred status of the representation. The piece is characterised by a sophisticated sculptural silhouette enriched with carving and a tendency towards contrasts; at the same time, it preserves authentic folk traditions, which are evident in the somewhat stylised contours of the figure, the locality of colour, and the sincere, immediate interpretation of the image.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery