Lot number 632 - Auction 138
BEDEUTENDE IKONE MIT DER WUNDERSAMEN BROTVERMEHRUNG

THEODOR POULAKIS (ATTR.) 1622 Crete - 1692 Corfu AN IMPORTANT ICON SHOWING THE FEEDING THE MULTITUDE Greek, Cretan, dated 1680 Tempera on wood panel. Finely executed in great detail. Christs drapery heightened with chrysography. Greek inscribed and dated '1680' on the lower part of the panel. Minimally restored. On the reverse cross motif and old label with inventory number '957'. 40 x 33.5 cm. The Feeding of the 5,000 is also known as the ''miracle of the five loaves and two fish'; the Gospel of John reports that Jesus used five loaves and two fish supplied by a boy to feed a multitude. According to Matthew's gospel, when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been killed, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Luke specifies that the place was near Bethsaida. The crowds followed Jesus on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.'