The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Emmanuel Tzanes, 1663

Agios ioannis climacos 1663, 27x33cm. Emmanuel tzane bunialis "emmanuel the priest janec is there" in the image on the right, ioannis climacus is represented in a cave, while writing his work "uranodromos klimax", from which he got his name. To the left, according to tradition in the iconography of the subject, is the ladder reaching to heaven, with the monks ascending the steps, assisted by angels, or precipitated by the demons and ending up in the mouth of the abyssal dragon. In the sky, christ in clouds welcomes the first monk who managed to reach the highest step. On the rock, above the cave, there is a monastery, perhaps the monastery of sinai, where john was a monk. Object Type: painting, icon. Genre: religious art. Date: 1663. Dimensions: height: 13 in (33 cm) ; width: 10.6 in (26.9 cm). Medium: tempera and gold leaf on panel. Depicted People: John Climacus. Collection: Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice. Ladder of Divine Ascent by E.Tzanes (1663)