Is this image mirrored and rotated? The text above Jesus according to tradition was INRI “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum” and it seems mirrored on this image. The border also seems out of place a bit.
On this Russian website they have rotated, mirrored version without the border: https://prelestgizni.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post_17.html
Maybe this is the original? I like this version better, the dynamic of the painting is up/down, while on the post it’s left/right, it looks like Jesus is laying on the top of an airplane, which is turning right:) In this version it looks like he is on a space shuttle after liftoff
Edit: After some more search I really sure the border is not part of the composition. That sign is called “Kolovrat”, and it’s used by the “slavic neopagainst” movement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Slavic_Native_Faith
After Vasilyev’s death, neopaganists discovered his art. Here is another of his paintings where you can clearly see that the border was added later: https://www.wikiart.org/en/konstantin-vasilyev/volga-2 You can see the original picture frame on the left side.
I guess the first person scanned this image added the border, as they was a “neopagainst” fan of Vasilyev. They added the border, even though the theme of this picture is not related to their faith, unlike a lot of his other paintings.
Thanks, I was also struggling with the weird INRI, and the original orientation makes more sense.
It’s a great piece of art, really punchy.
I prefer it with the frame and upside down.
I flipped it horizontally and am delighted.