The Dormition of the Theotokos altar door curtain

August 15 1510

It is embroidered with golden, silver and silk threads on a background of red silk. Lined with Damascus orange cotton linen, its margins are draped over the original border, made of red, deteriorated, bleached silk.

This altar door is a masterpiece of the Romanian Middle Ages, a renewing and daring work of art, considered to be one of the most original creations of that age, while also being the largest embroidery to be found in the collection of Putna Monastery. Its iconographic scene details the Assumption of Virgin Mary, presented in an unprecedented general vision, unparalleled by any other medieval work of the Romanians and not only.

The authors of the composition, monks Zohima, Ioil and Mardarie - the earliest makers of embroideries known to us until now - depicted here all the scenes and details of this well-known Christian tradition. In short, this tradition tells that, upon the death of the Holy Virgin, the angels went to seek the twelve apostles who had gone to spread the word of the Gospel to as many cities and bring them to her funeral. Once found, they were brought on a flying cloud straight back to Jerusalem.


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