Painting

Item number 3398/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Large rectangular painting on canvas, framed in wood. The painted image is divided into four rows of eleven Christian-themed scenes. The small rectangular panels are separated by red with yellow borders, with circular wheel-like decorations at each corner. The entire story is bordered by blue with yellow, with circular wheel-like decorations in the corners. At the top of each panel is writing in black on a white background, with exception to the bottom row, which has writing across the bottom of the panels as well.

Iconographic Meaning

This panel, written in Amharic, relates the history of the Queen of Sheba’s visit to the court of King Solomon in Jerusalem. Christianity was proclaimed the official religion of Ethiopia as early as the fourth century. It is believed that Mâkëdâ, Queen of Sheba, from Axum in Northern Ethiopia, travelled to Jerusalem to pay homage to King Solomon. Seduced by Solomon, she gave birth to their son, Menelik. In popular culture, the Queen's visit to King Solomon is narrated in panels, in the Amharic language, such as this one.