How does Christ the Vine (Moskos) elucidate its Description?
Christ the Vine is a tempera painting on gold leaf and wood panel. The height is 36.7 cm (14.4 in) and the width is 29.3 cm (11.5 in).  Beginning from the top of the vine to our left, Peter is seated on a branch holding a book and the Keys of Heaven. Saint Peter is often depicted holding the two keys in his left hand.  On the other side, across Peter, sits Paul the Evangelist, he also holds a unique book.  The two figures are facing each other.  Below the top two figures are a group of four figures.  They appear to the left and right of Jesus.  Jesus takes the stance of Pantocrator.  He has a book open in his lap.  The book is facing the viewers.  The two figures to our left are Saint Mark and John.  Three figures were not original apostles.  The artist chose evangelists over the original apostles. Saint Mark  replaces Judas, Paul the Evangelist replaces Andrew the Apostle and Luke the Evangelist replaces James, son of Alphaeus. Saint Mark was the patron saint of Venice.  Across from Saint Mark and John are Matthew and Luke the Evangelist. Matthew is closest to Jesus. Matthew has his arm around Luke the Evangelist they both hold closed books.  Below the group of the Four Evangelists, Jude or Thaddeus is to our left directly below Saint Mark and John the Evangelist.  Across from Thaddeus below Matthew and Luke. James is seated to our right.  He holds a scroll.  The next group beginning from our left Simon looks upward while he holds a scroll.  He is facing Bartholomew, he also holds a scroll.  The final group at the lowest branches of the tree to our left, Thomas looks up at Jesus. Philip sits across from him to our right.The icon Moskos copied was from an unknown artist created between 1600-1700.  It was either wrongfully attributed to a different artist or Moskos created an almost identical version of his own work.  The artwork relative to earlier versions of the theme created by Cretan painter Angelos Akotantos displays the same figures.  The figures in the later works are more refined adapting to the Venetian influenced maniera greca.  The style escaped the Byzantine style introducing a more refined artistic technique.  The central figure of Christ is smaller the painter adds more details and lines to the work.  The tree and the figures clearly exhibit edges and groves.  The folds of fabric are also reminiscent of the refinement in the Cretan style of the period. The three figures to the left and right of Christ create the illusion of space.  The different figures are symmetric.  The poses of the figures are more complex.
Judas Jesus Angelos Andrew the Apostle Venice Saint Peter Bartholomew Angelos Akotantos Luke the Evangelist Pantocrator Paul the Evangelist Keys of Heaven John Thaddeus John the Evangelist Christ the Vine Simon Jude James, son of Alphaeus Matthew Philip Thomas Four Evangelists James apostles Saint Mark Peter Luke Moskos