ICONOLASTS VS. ICONPHILESEastern Christians considered icon a personal,Intimate and indispensible medium for spiritualTransaction with holy figures

Opposition to icons became especially strong in The 8th century when it became confused with idol Worship

Emperor Leo III saw the loss of Byzantine territories to Islamic Arabs, and the disease and poverty that followed as God’s punishment for their idolatrous worship.

An Imperial ban occurred in 726 – iconoclasm. The papacy defied this ban and became iconophiles and were cast out of the empire

For over a century no icons were produced in the Byzantine Empire and many were destroyed

John of Damascus argued for icons because God made his son and humankind in his image

Basil I restored the use of icons in the late 9th century as he aimed to restore Byzantium to Glory of the Ancient Roman Empire. With this restoration the pendulum begins to swing back towards NATURALISM

What Stylistic developments do you see

Christ Pantokrator = Christ the “All-powerful” or “Ruler of All” and judge of humanity

What are the facts? (F)Artist: NAPatron: NATitle: rucifixionPeriod/Style: Mid Byzantine, 1100Size: Large ScaleLocation: Church of the Dormition

Material/technique: Mosaic

Subject MatterChrist Crucified with Mary and Saint John

Context/FunctionLocation: Wall Below the dome – signifies Christ’s ressurection into heavenHistorical Events Made after ban on icons has been lifted. Macedonian dynasty or emperors seek to restore Byzantine to the golden days of Rome through artistic patronage

Formal Analysis:

Style: Blend of naturalism from late antiquity style and the flat Byzaninte style. Classical organic structure of form mixed piety and feeling of early Byzantine art

Composition:

- Symmetry and closed space creates a sense of motionlessness

- Not a historical narrative, nor is Christ a beardless and triumphant youth

- He has a tilted head and sagging body. His wounds bleed. John and Mary point to him as if to say he is a devotional object

- They act as intercessors between viewer and Christ, who in the dome performs the last judgement

- Skull = Golgotha “Place of Skulls” where crucifixion took place outside Jerusalem

Explain how the Crucifixion mosaic from the Church of Dormition accommodates both religious beliefs and practices within it cultures

Middle Byzantine Painting

What are the facts? (F)Artist: NAPatron: NATitle: LamentationPeriod/Style: Mid Byzantine, 1100Size: Large ScaleLocation: Saint Pantaleimon, Macedonia

Material/technique: Fresco painting

Subject MatterPassionate Grief over dead Christ

Middle Byzantine PaintingContext / PurposeHistorical Event: Post Iconoclasm

Big Ideas: Renewed interest in the classical world and naturalism impact subject matter and portrayal of religious iconography.

Art inspires spiritual and emotional reactions

Function: To inspire in the viewer the emotional impact of Christ’s death

Middle Byzantine PaintingForma Analysis

Passionate Grief over dead Christ is shown in the gestures of the characters:

- Mary, old and tiered looking, Presses her cheek against Christ’s lifeless body

- Saint John bends over an clings to Christ’s hand

- A grouping of disciples kneel at his feat showing their reverence

The scene take place in our world under a blue sky atop a hill = a natural setting which heightens the human emotions of this episode in Christ’s story

What are the facts? (F)Artist: NAPatron: NATitle: Virgin of Compassion (Vladimir Virgin) - iconPeriod/Style: Mid Byzantine, 1100Size: 2’ 65.” x 1’ 9”Location: Saint Pantaleimon, Macedonia

Material/technique: Tempora paint on wood

Subject MatterCompassionate Mary (Theotokos) with Christ child

Context

Historical Events: End of Iconoclasm – icon paintings were now displayed in hierarchial scale on the columnar screen that divided the sanctuary from the rest of the church

Location: This icon passed between various Russian location. Russian believe it saved the city of Kazan from Tartar invasion, and later all of Russia from the poles in the 17th century

Big Idea: With the revival of naturalism icons become more emotionally expressive

Formal Analysis

Characteristic traits of Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ Baby: Long straight nose, Small mouth,Flesh is more naturally modeled than early Byzantine art Golden rays in the infants drapery (signifying light of god and divinity)Contour of Mary’s robe encloses her and the infant Christ in a flat silhouette against a golden ground (indicator of their position in heaven)

Again Mary presses her cheek against Christ’s in an intimate portrayal of mother and son

She gazes down lost in thought as she contemplates the future sacrifice of her son

Function: Invites the audience to join Mary in her contemplation of Christ’s death / Pathos = object of religious meditation not idol worship

DISCUSS THE IMPACT HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL EVENTS (INCLUDING RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENTS) HAD ON DETERMININGTHE PRESENTATION OF THE SUBJECT MATTER?