Artwork

Profeten Elias, i rød kjortel, violet gevandt og hvid turban, taler til den sunamitiske kvinde

Profeten Elias, i rød kjortel, violet gevandt og hvid turban, taler til den sunamitiske kvinde is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays the biblical episode in which the prophet Elijah (Profeten Elias) addresses the Shunammite woman, a scene drawn from 2 Kings 4.

The painting portrays the biblical episode in which the prophet Elijah (Profeten Elias) addresses the Shunammite woman, a scene drawn from 2 Kings 4. The title specifies Elias wearing a red kjortel, a violet gevandt and a white turban, details that identify the figure visually. Classified as a religious painting, the work’s genre confirms its devotional intent.

By depicting this encounter, the image highlights themes of prophecy, divine communication and faith, presenting a moment of spiritual exchange between the prophet and the woman of Shunem.

History & Provenance

The painting Profeten Elias, i rød kjortel, violet gevandt og hvid turban, taler til den sunamitiske kvinde is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) in Copenhagen, where it is catalogued as a religious work depicting Elijah and the Woman of Shunem. The artist is not identified in the records (listed as unknown), and no earlier owners, commission, or date of creation are documented in the available sources. The canvas measures 200 cm in height and 270 cm in width.

Overview

The canvas depicts a biblical encounter on a craggy shoreline: a bearded prophet in a white robe and turban holds a staff and gestures toward a kneeling woman wrapped in a dark cloak over a light dress. A younger onlooker in a plain tunic watches from behind. A modest boat drifts on the water, while a cave is cut into the cliff above the figures.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil on canvas, the work employs a muted palette of earth tones contrasted with the bright white of the prophet’s robe and the violet turban, creating visual focus on the central figure. The composition uses a shallow depth of field, with the rocky shore and distant boat rendered in looser brushwork, while the figures are detailed with precise modeling.