The Pregnant Abbess
Image displayed with permission of Chester Beatty Library
The Pregnant Abbess
- This painting (also called an illumination) appears in a manuscript dated to 1769-1777. You can view this painting in the manuscript Chester Beatty Library, [Ethiopic Collection], Manuscript No. 914, f. 25v, s. 52, or learn more about this manuscript at its PEMM Manuscript page. You can also read the related story at its PEMM Story page.
- Many Geʿez manuscript paintings are in "Synoptic Narrative Art” style; that is, a single painting depicts multiple moments in the story, providing a series of vignettes representing different plot points. PEMM calls these "episodes". This painting of PEMM Story ID 158 has 2 episodes. The painting's episode descriptions, locations, and keywords are:
- 1. Sofyā lying on top of a building before the icon of the Virgin and Child while an angel carries away the child from her womb (top). The object(s) are church; handkerchief. The living being(s) are Mary; Jesus Christ; angel.
- 2. The angel handing the child to Finkǝs (bottom). The object(s) are building. The living being(s) are angel.
- The number of PEMM manuscripts that have paintings of this story is 37. The total number of paintings of this story in PEMM manuscripts is 76.
- PEMM's ID number for this painting is 1385.
- To reproduce this image online or in print, please contact the Chester Beatty Library. PEMM does not own the rights.
- If you think any of the information on this page is incorrect (e.g., the location, date, description, captions), please use our PEMM Feedback Form to let us know. We depend on users like you to improve the site.
