Hand painted Orthodox icon “The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem with Sermon on the Mount and Scenes from the Passion”, 30x40 cm

This hand-painted Orthodox icon on wood depicts the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, one of the central episodes of the Christological cycle, foreshadowing the Passion and the Resurrection. The composition is arranged in several narrative registers, framed by a richly ornamented border. An original artwork, in egg tempera colours, by Ana Drăgan (DAM).

In the central register, Christ is shown riding a donkey in a calm and blessing gesture, approaching the city of Jerusalem, represented through stylised architectural forms. The inhabitants of the city welcome Him with branches and garments laid along the road, while children cut branches from the trees—an iconographic motif traditionally associated with this scene. On the left side, the Apostles are grouped together in a compact composition, following the conventions of Byzantine iconography.

The upper register presents the scene of the Sermon on the Mount, accompanied by inscriptions of the Beatitudes. Here Christ appears in a teaching posture, surrounded by the gathered crowd, emphasising the theological dimension of the Gospel message.

The lower register includes miniature scenes from the Passion and the Resurrection, as well as the Ascension, expanding the narrative reading of the icon toward the fundamental moments of the history of salvation.

The frame is richly decorated with stylised vegetal motifs and circular medallions containing representations of saints, arranged symmetrically along the sides. The color palette is dominated by warm tones of red, ochre, and green, complemented by accents of blue and gold, while the decorative treatment enhances the solemn and festive character of the composition.

The style of the icon combines elements reminiscent of the frescoes of the wooden churches of Transylvania with features of the Novgorod school of Russian iconography from the 16th century, visible in the expansive narrative structure, the stylisation of the architecture, the expressive figures, and the richness of the ornamentation.