Celebrating
the restoration of Holy Images at the end of Iconoclasm
The
overthrow of Iconoclasm in AD 843 was seen as a triumph for the orthodox branch
of the Christian church. This icon portrays the annual Festival of Orthodoxy
celebrated on the first Sunday in Lent. It was painted in egg tempera on gold
leaf on a wooden panel covered with gesso and linen.
The icon of
the Virgin Mary Hodegetria appears at the centre of the top register on a stand
draped with red and gold cloth. This, the most famous icon of Constantinople,
was believed to have been painted by the Evangelist St Luke, and thus to be an
actual life portrait of the Virgin. The regent Empress Theodora and her young
son, the emperor Michael III (reigned AD 842-67) appear on the left, wearing
jewelled crowns and robes. On the right is the Patriarch Methodios (in office
from 843-7) together with three monks - supporters of the Iconophile cause.
The lower
register depicts eleven saints and bishops, some of whom triumphantly display
small icons. All were active iconophiles, such as the female figure on the far left,
identified as St Theodosia of Constantinople who, at the outbreak of
Iconoclasm, reputedly tried to save the famous icon of Christ placed over the
Chalke (Bronze) Gate of the Imperial Palace. Seven of the figures can be identified as (from left to
right): St Theodosia (1), St Theophanes the Confessor (5), St Theodore
the Studite (6), St Theodore and St Theophanes, the Graptoi (7 and 8),
St Theophylaktos (10) and St Arsakios (11).
Production place
Painted in Constantinople
Date
1400 (circa)
Dimensions
Height: 378 millimetres
Width: 310 millimetres
Depth: 53 millimetres
The British Museum
Department: Prehistory and Europe
Registration number: 1988,0411.1
Additional IDs IC 18
This icon has been photographed under infrared light; the photographs are in the departmental object folder.
Published:
The National Art Collections Fund Review 1988, 93-4; D. Buckton,
Byzantium: Treasure of Byzantine Art and Culture, London, 1994, no 140.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий