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Welcome to Ancient Sculpture Gallery's Byzantine Icons Collection
Byzantine art is generally taken to include the arts of the Byzantine
Empire (the Eastern Roman Empire) from the foundation of the
new capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in AD 330 on the
location of ancient Byzantium, to the capture of the city by the
Ottoman Turks in 1453. Byzantine art grew from the ancient
classical heritage, but was distinguished from it in a number of
ways. If the purpose of classical art was the glorification of man,
the purpose of Byzantine art was the glorification of God, and
particularly of his son, Jesus. In place of the nude, the figures of
God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints and
martyrs of Christian tradition were elevated, and became almost
exclusive focus of Byzantine artists. And one of the most
important forms of Byzantine art were, and still are, the icons -
painted images of Christ, the Virgin (particularly the Virgin and
Child), or a saint, used as an object of veneration in Orthodox
churches and private homes. Icons are not ordinary paintings.
They are supposed to remind us of the temporarity of life on earth
and how to live in a Christian way to win the eternal life. More
importantly, icons are masterpieces of the one of the most
prosperous European civilizations, and they are resposible for
influencing and leaving a lasting mark to the world art in general.
Empire (the Eastern Roman Empire) from the foundation of the
new capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in AD 330 on the
location of ancient Byzantium, to the capture of the city by the
Ottoman Turks in 1453. Byzantine art grew from the ancient
classical heritage, but was distinguished from it in a number of
ways. If the purpose of classical art was the glorification of man,
the purpose of Byzantine art was the glorification of God, and
particularly of his son, Jesus. In place of the nude, the figures of
God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints and
martyrs of Christian tradition were elevated, and became almost
exclusive focus of Byzantine artists. And one of the most
important forms of Byzantine art were, and still are, the icons -
painted images of Christ, the Virgin (particularly the Virgin and
Child), or a saint, used as an object of veneration in Orthodox
churches and private homes. Icons are not ordinary paintings.
They are supposed to remind us of the temporarity of life on earth
and how to live in a Christian way to win the eternal life. More
importantly, icons are masterpieces of the one of the most
prosperous European civilizations, and they are resposible for
influencing and leaving a lasting mark to the world art in general.
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Hand painted and aged Byzantine icon of
Virgin Mary and Jesus Christs as child.
Virgin Mary and Jesus Christs as child.
The origins of icons have been spotted in 6th-7th
century church decorations, such as those of the
churches of Saint Demetrius at Thessalonica in
Macedonia and Santa Maria Antiqua at Rome in
Italy. But in the 8th century an iconoclastic crisis
followed and lasted, with interruptions, until 843.
This period of iconoclasm, coinciding as it did
with the military and political crisis of the
Byzantine Empire, saw a great decline in artistic
achievement. Icon-painting was banned as the
state was too preoccupied with warfare to
commission major buildings. But toward the
end of the 9th century, Byzantine religious art
entered its "Golden Age," often called the
Macedonian Renaissance after the ruling
dynasty, which begun with the reign of Emperor
Basil I the Macedonian in 867. The art of the
period, in both subject matter and style, often
draws directly and deliberately on the Hellenistic
and Roman classical heritage. Monumental art
again exhibited relatively naturalistic and strongly
modeled three-dimensional figures, often
characterized by a restrained dignity and noble
grandeur, as in the mosaic of the Virgin and
Child (867) still in place in the apse of Hagia
Sophia.
century church decorations, such as those of the
churches of Saint Demetrius at Thessalonica in
Macedonia and Santa Maria Antiqua at Rome in
Italy. But in the 8th century an iconoclastic crisis
followed and lasted, with interruptions, until 843.
This period of iconoclasm, coinciding as it did
with the military and political crisis of the
Byzantine Empire, saw a great decline in artistic
achievement. Icon-painting was banned as the
state was too preoccupied with warfare to
commission major buildings. But toward the
end of the 9th century, Byzantine religious art
entered its "Golden Age," often called the
Macedonian Renaissance after the ruling
dynasty, which begun with the reign of Emperor
Basil I the Macedonian in 867. The art of the
period, in both subject matter and style, often
draws directly and deliberately on the Hellenistic
and Roman classical heritage. Monumental art
again exhibited relatively naturalistic and strongly
modeled three-dimensional figures, often
characterized by a restrained dignity and noble
grandeur, as in the mosaic of the Virgin and
Child (867) still in place in the apse of Hagia
Sophia.
Hand painted and aged Byzantine icon of enthroned
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.
The Macedonian emperors were
followed by the Comnenan dynasty, who
were also great patrons of arts, and with
their support Byzantine artists created
masterpieces at Daphni and at Nerezi
near Skopje. But after the capture and
sack of the capital Constantinople by the
Fourth Crusaders in 1204, the
development of Byzantine art was
severely disrupted, still not ended
altogether. The empire was
reestablished in 1261and under the
Palaeologan dynasty the Byzantine art
saw a brilliant revival, of which the Chora
Church in Constantinople is the finest
extant example. Another masterpiece,
The Annunciation from Ochrid, one of the
most admired icons of the Paleologan
Mannerism, bears comparison with the
finest contemporary works by Italian
artists.
The greatest legacy of Byzantine art is
that it made possible the Renaissance
in western Europe. By the 11th century
the art of Byzantine icons was widely
diffused from Russia and Ukraine to
Norman Sicily and Venice in Italy. By the
12th century the influence of Byzantium
followed by the Comnenan dynasty, who
were also great patrons of arts, and with
their support Byzantine artists created
masterpieces at Daphni and at Nerezi
near Skopje. But after the capture and
sack of the capital Constantinople by the
Fourth Crusaders in 1204, the
development of Byzantine art was
severely disrupted, still not ended
altogether. The empire was
reestablished in 1261and under the
Palaeologan dynasty the Byzantine art
saw a brilliant revival, of which the Chora
Church in Constantinople is the finest
extant example. Another masterpiece,
The Annunciation from Ochrid, one of the
most admired icons of the Paleologan
Mannerism, bears comparison with the
finest contemporary works by Italian
artists.
The greatest legacy of Byzantine art is
that it made possible the Renaissance
in western Europe. By the 11th century
the art of Byzantine icons was widely
diffused from Russia and Ukraine to
Norman Sicily and Venice in Italy. By the
12th century the influence of Byzantium
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on western European art reached its zenith and played a truly generative role in the development within
Romanesque Art of a revival in realistic portraiture and greater naturalism in style and humanism in
content. This influence was transmitted through the Frankish and Salic emperors, primarily Charlemagne,
who had close relations with Byzantium. And despite the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Byzantine
cultural heritage had been widely diffused from Macedonia, Thrace and Greece, to Bulgaria, Serbia,
Romania and, most importantly, to Russia, which became the centre of the Orthodox world following the
Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. Even under Ottoman rule, Byzantine traditions in icon-painting survived.
It is because of this importance the Byzantine icons hold in world art, they find their space here at the
Ancient Sculpture Gallery's Icons collection. We offer all the best masterpieces of Byzantine art, including
recreation of all the icons from Constantinople and Thessalonica, the two major cultural and artistic
centers of the empire. Our Byzantine icons are painted in the original and authentic Byzantine traditional
style, the same way utilized by the Byzantine artists from the 5th to the 15th century. They are done the way
on properly prepared linden wood and painted with the egg tempera technique. They are gilded with 24K
gold leaf. We are true to the original Byzantine tradition in iconography, and are guided by the greatest
Byzantine icon painters.
Romanesque Art of a revival in realistic portraiture and greater naturalism in style and humanism in
content. This influence was transmitted through the Frankish and Salic emperors, primarily Charlemagne,
who had close relations with Byzantium. And despite the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Byzantine
cultural heritage had been widely diffused from Macedonia, Thrace and Greece, to Bulgaria, Serbia,
Romania and, most importantly, to Russia, which became the centre of the Orthodox world following the
Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. Even under Ottoman rule, Byzantine traditions in icon-painting survived.
It is because of this importance the Byzantine icons hold in world art, they find their space here at the
Ancient Sculpture Gallery's Icons collection. We offer all the best masterpieces of Byzantine art, including
recreation of all the icons from Constantinople and Thessalonica, the two major cultural and artistic
centers of the empire. Our Byzantine icons are painted in the original and authentic Byzantine traditional
style, the same way utilized by the Byzantine artists from the 5th to the 15th century. They are done the way
on properly prepared linden wood and painted with the egg tempera technique. They are gilded with 24K
gold leaf. We are true to the original Byzantine tradition in iconography, and are guided by the greatest
Byzantine icon painters.