Ezekiel's Wheel - Icon

Ezekiel's Wheel 17 x12 Egg Tempera on Wood Panel

The elements of this Icon are taken from the vision of the Prophel Ezekiel as described in the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel. His vision of a "wheel within a wheel" the "color of beryl" which contained a lion, a bull, an eagle and an angel like creature has been given many interpretations. Most scholars believe the vision references the political turmoil contemporary to Ezekiel's experience. Some researchers attribute his vision to an encounter with a UFO or perhaps a brief look into the future.

Something unusual did happen while I was painting (writing) this Icon. I was about 60 percent finished after three or four days work and set the Icon on the floor next to my work area. When I came back the next morning, the Icon was completely blank - completely white gesso. Scout, one of our beagles, had licked the egg tempera (and three days work) completely off the gesso. I called the poison control center since the egg tempera contains so many toxic minerals and they said it was too late to do anything except to monitor his conditon. We watched him closely and he seemed his normal self - except for some very colorful poop.