ICONOGRAPHY

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ICONOGRAPHY
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Early Religious Art

• Iconography refers to the paintings, mosaics, and
  frescoes created in the Byzantine and Orthodox
  Christian tradition. The word itself literally
  means image writing in Greek.
• Icons typically show religious figures in a
  strict form with fixed patterns. Everything in
  the portrait is symbolic. Modern viewers notice
  the exact craftmanship, while contemporary
  viewers loved the religious significance they
  placed on the images.

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History of the Movement

• In the late 6th century, paintings of Christ,
  Mary and the saints became objects of veneration.
  They were considered actual portraits of the
  saints, supposedly based on paintings done by St.
  Paul after a visitation by God. Later works were
  based on the original true works, with
  variation strongly discouraged.
• In 726, the church issued an edict prohibiting
  religious images. The edict caused a rift in the
  church between the east and the west, eventually
  leading to a division between the Roman church
  and the Orthodox, or Eastern church.
• During the 300 year dispute, many of the
  earliest icons were destroyed as heretical.
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• Whats happening in this picture?

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Orthodox Icons

• After the edict, another 500 years elapsed before
  the tradition of icons revived in the east. By
  1300, iconic art was flourishing again.
• Because of their formulaic presentation, most
  icons share similar characteristics
• Graceful poses
• Rich clothing and color
• Gilding and halos
• Flat perspective
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• Does the baby Christ look like a baby?
• Does the gilding make you think of the sun?

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Symbolism

• The picture here is of St. Elizabeth. Notice
  that her mouth is smaller than her ears, which
  symbolizes that she hears the pleas of
  Christians, but only speaks wisdom.
• The red of the cloak symbolizes the suffering of
  the church martyrs, while the gold background is
  the light of heaven.
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• Is the saint happy? Sad?
• Does she look like a real person?
• Is her head too large for her body? What about
  her hands?

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Different Media

• These two portraits are done by the same artist.
  Both are of Mary, mother of Jesus, on a throne
  with her child on her lap. The top work is a
  fresco (a painting done as the finish of a wall),
  while the bottom one is a painting on a piece of
  wood.
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• Notice the flat perspective, but the ornateness
  of the throne and the clothing.
• How are these pictures different? Alike?
  Colors?
• Are the saints happy? Does the baby look
  realistic? Does it matter to the picture if he
  does?

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Russian icons

• Another media used for icons was mosaics. At the
  time, many mosaics were used in churches and
  other holy places.
• The veneration continued, particularly in Russia,
  where they remained important religious objects
  until modern times.
• Icons continue to be used in Eastern Orthodox
  churches and in private homes of its followers.
  The stark formality and gorgeous color can be
  seen in 20th century Russian art.