These Byzantine icons are more than paintings, they are a creation made with a deeper meaning. The icon is not a box. The icon does not represent what the artist has before his eyes, but a model to which he must adhere.
These icons are venerated, but veneration comes from the one they represent. Icons can be kissed, and awaited healing, and are venerated because they represent Christ, the Virgin and the Saints.
Let me explain the foundation of the icon ....
In the Old Testament God had forbidden any attempt to make an image of him. The biblical texts (Dt 4, 12 and 15) say that although they heard his word, they did not see his image. The Lord often reproached the tendency to work and worship idols.
On the two outside wings, the six enamel medallions, read from bottom to top. They provide a link to the Byzantine triptychs. These medallions tell the story leading up to the drama of the miracle of the Cross and the conversion of Constantine, the Roman emperor, who was the first to recognize Christianity. The medallions on the left-wing show how Constantine converted to Christianity based on a dream in which an angel points to the cross and tells him he will be victorious over Maxentius, under that symbol. The middle medallion is him along with his soldiers defeating Maxentius in the battle at Milvian Bridge. After this he becomes the sole ruler of the western empire. The upper medallion is when Constantine is baptized near his death. In this medallion the artists use dark enamel lines to accentuate the anatomical parts of Constantine, for example his muscles. From as early as this piece, there are signs of the development of naturalism in Roman art. On the other hand, the medallions on the right tell the story of Saint Helena, Emperor Constantine’s mother, who was believed to have discovered the True Cross. In the lower medallion, Helena questions the Jews. In the middle she digs up the cross and in the top she brings it back to the imperial court. The middle reliquaries, which are static and iconic images, are much more symbolic,
Roman Emperor Constantine I founded the Byzantine Empire in 330 CE as a continuation of the Roman Empire in the east. The characteristics of the empire led to the modern definition of “Byzantine,” which means “strangely complicated.” This was true, as in the Byzantine Empire was very chaotic, complex, and strange at times, but it was very massive and influential worldwide. The empire heavily influenced modern religion, laws, and engineering making it worthwhile learning about the empire.
What makes people or certain things Icons? A Icon is a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something. During the Black Arts Movement one of the questions brought up was if Black people should change their views as to who and what our Icons and Symbols were. In the book JuJu Magic Songs for the Black Nation which written by and but together by Askia Muhammad Abu Bakr El-Toure, he points out many different Black people that can be called Icons and Symbols for us. He follows the Black aesthetics of Larry Neal who points out that we as a community need Icons and Symbolism to help find ourselves.
One similarity between Giotto's and Cimabue's painting are that they show Madonna sitting on a throne with Jesus on her left side. Madonna and Jesus are also in the upper center of the painting surrounded by prophets and angels. The centers of paintings during the time were usually reserved for the Virgin Mary or Christ. (7) In both pieces, the angels and prophets are split equally on both sides of the paintings. Sometimes artists would place the same number of figures on one both sides, so as not to disturb the compositional consistency. This fundamental of symmetry had to be maintained in Byzantine art.
The Warka Vase is a uniquely large piece that was laboriously built, and carefully decorated. The images on the Warka Vase are significant and have iconographic meanings unique to the Uruk people and the cult of Inana. The images reference common practices in cuneiform and iconography of the time and place the Warka Vase was made and can be cross compared with other pieces from the time to understand the symbolism of this brilliant piece of art. To understand who is in the images, what they are doing and how they relate to one another may bring unique insight to the practices of the cult of Inana.
Examining the iconography in this sculpture, there are two details to note. The first is the grapes in the Virgin’s hand. The grapes represent
Architecture is one important aspect of Byzantine culture. One of the most famous Byzantine architectural achievements is the Hagia Sophia, which is located in modern-day Istanbul. The basic design of the cathedral has a dome over a square base, which required a new innovation. At the time, it was kn...
1432.) is a magnificent work of Christian art. The painting of the Lord is covered with symbolism from top to bottom. The background has Christian’s symbols of wine and pelicans which relates to blood of Christ. The Lord wore clothing such as the headgear that represents the trinity, and sash that reveals the Sabbath. The phrases in the painting that reveal about eternal life and power of the Lord. Finally the painting has symbols of power: the large amount of gold presented in the painting and the crown below his feet. The painting is rich with symbolism, and the work of art need to be carefully overserve to see the full
When someone in a monotheistic religion sees an image that is worshiped they see it as if that person was worshipping a statue of Jesus or Allah which is considered a sin, or wrong, to them because that object is not what is holy, the person it is created to look like is holy. The statue, although it may be seen as important or even sacred, is manmade and therefore not holy. These people views religious objects as important but not necessary for their religion because to them they are material objects and what they stand for is what matters more so than they do. An example of this is that someone might have an attachment to their specific bible, but if it were to be destroyed it
The representation of divinity was clearly defined in Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists through its subject matter, technique, and style. Christ acts as the focal point, but the artist also used different subjects from the Old and New Testament to decorate the apse. Unlike the mosaics in the apse of Byzantine churches, the artist employed the technique of classical fresco painting. The artist also applied decoration to the figures with the hierarchy of scale, and through the geometric style in the drapery instead of maintaining a sense of realism.
Iconography is defined as the study of various subject matters and conventional symbols in works of art (Cothran, Stokstad 1141). In art history, iconography is used to study the interpretation of the artwork such as the composition and the artistic style of the piece. Iconography used regarding the interpretation of Jan van Eyck’s Double Portriat of Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife includes the debate as to whether or not the artwork represents a wedding or a double portrait. The piece shows a man and women holding hands and with their shoes off indicating a sacred event is taking place. A single candle is lit on the chandelier representing the presents of God. Through iconography analysis, these details indicate that the artwork is portraying
Byzantine mosaics developed depicted subjects with shimmering skin and shinning halos which brought up an effect of an accomplished gold leaf and smalti. The Roman mosaics featured domestic scenes, animal sacrifices and geometric patterns which led to the creation or display of Christian imagery in terms of depicting Christ.
In Eastern Orthodox Christian nations, the relationship between church and state is characterized by the system of harmonic symphony, a doctrine stemming from the Byzantine times. The idea behind this concept is that the temporal (profane) and divine (sacred) powers should and need to work together in harmony with the end result that the contemporary ties between religion and nation are much more pronounced and organic in the Orthodox tradition than in the West (Byrnes 2006). As John Meyendorff states, ‘the great dream of Byzantine civilization was a universal Christian society, administered by the emperor and spiritually guided by the Church’(Meyendorff 1979). According to this vision, the empire was considered the kingdom which would last
Byzantine art had many basic characteristics. The first was expressionistic using color and emotion. Many of the are lacked depth in a two dimensional fashion. The art was symbolic in nature, decorative, detailed. The figures are stiff and ...
One may ask what exactly does it mean to be made in God’s image. For someone not familiar with the Christian religion may find this as confusing. Living in God’s image does not exactly mean living as if you are God, which would blasphemy, but instead use our attributes that God has given us that are similar to His own. Christians are aware that God’s image is holy, merciful, benevolent, just, independent, and also rational since he has the ability to reason. Thus since humans were created in God’s image, we all encompass these characteristics.