Guide to Byzantine Iconography, Volume One: Detailed explanation of the distinctive characteristics of Byzantine iconography, of the traditional pattern of decorating Eastern Orthodox churches with panel icons, wall paintings, and mosaics, and of the chief Doctrinal, Liturgical, and Festal icons; together with a concise systematic exposition of Saint John Damascene’s defense of holy icons
“[...This book deals] with many tenets and teachings of iconography rarely found, if to be found at all, in the English language, such as Archetypes, Frontality, Hieraticalness, Inverted and Psychological Perspective, Abolition of Time, etc. One can rightly say that the present volume is a handbook of Orthodox iconography for both the iconographer and the layman, for both the faithful and the student and friend of iconography. In less than three hundred pages one comes across information that it would take searching many volumes to find.” —“Foreword”
CONTENTS
FOREWORD PREFACE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Introduction Byzantine Iconography as a Sacred Art Its History Themes of Byzantine Iconography Frontality The Face Archetypes The Halo The Garments The Members of the Body Objects The Background Inverted and Psychological Perspective Abolition of Time Aesthetic Features Hieraticalness Iconography and Architecture Classification of Icons Part One Panel Icons on Proskynetaria and on the Iconostasis CHAPTER I. PROSKYNETARIA CHAPTER II. THE ICONOSTASIS Part Two Murals: Wall Painting and Mosaics CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINAL CYCLE Christ as the Door Christ as Pantocrator Choir of Angels Prophets The Four Evangelists The Theotokos as Platytera The Second Coming of Christ CHAPTER II. THE LITURGICAL CYCLE The Divine Liturgy Communion of the Apostles Great Hierarchs Other Figures CHAPTER III. THE FESTAL CYCLE The Annunciation The Nativity The Presentation of Christ in the Temple The Baptism The Transfiguration The Raising of Lazarus The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem The Crucifixion The Resurrection The Touching of Thomas The Myrrh-bearing Women Apostles Peter and John at the Tomb The Ascension Pentecost The Dormition of the Theotokos CHAPTER IV. THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT Appendix SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE’S DEFENSE OF ICONOGRAPHY AND THE VENERATION OF HOLY ICONS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX OF ICONOGRAPHIC THEMES GENERAL INDEX
Item Number: BKHT340 Publication data: Boston, MA: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1993 Format: softcover Number of pages: 264 Dimensions (l × w × h): 22.8 cm × 15.2 cm × 1.7 cm Additional information: two-color printing, black-and-white illustrations ISBN: 0‒943405‒05‒X
