Icon of The Crucifixion
Oil on wood panel
9.25" x 11.50" x .75".
“He who hung the earth upon the water is hung upon the Cross. He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery." ( Antiphon for the Good Friday Matins)
Earliest images of Christ on the Cross date from the 2nd century, usually depicting Christ dressed in priestly vestment. However by the 11th century Icons showing Jesus bare and dead started to appear in Byzantium. His body is shown limp, head bowed, eyes closed, but at the same time the pose reflects voluntary nature of Christ’s sacrifice. Later Russian versions of this icon show blood coming from the hands, feet and side. The slanted crossbar was also introduced by Russian Iconography and symbolically represents the condemnation of the thief on the left side of Christ, the crossbar slanted downward, and justification of the thief on the right of Jesus, the crossbar slanted upward. At the foot of the cross opens a cave, with the scull of the Adam appearing through the darkness. It is believed that the tradition of iconography adopted this detail coming from apocryphal sources because it served to bring out the dogmatic meaning of the icon of Crucifixion: the redemption of the first Adam by the blood of Christ, the New Adam, Who made Himself man to save the human race. (1, 2)
If you would like to learn more about the Crucifixion, please listen to this podcast by Fr. Thomas Hopko, as he examines the Mystery of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord and how it led to the re-creation of the world.
I've always wondered why this developed so late and how iconographers feel about this lateness.
ReplyDeleteYes! How many changes! First Jesus was being illustrated as a lamb, until Council of Constantinople in 629 ordered that "instead of the lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ will be shown hereafter in His human form in images so that we shall be led to remember His mortal life, His passion, and His death, which paid the ransom for mankind." Then in the middle ages, as crucifixion was finding its popularity, the emphasis in theology was on resurrection, and Christ was being depicted alert and in no pain. By the thirteenth century body becomes twisted in suffering on the cross - emphasis at the time was on humanity of Christ. In fifteenth century Jesus is shown with eyes closed, body no longer in pain, taking a complete turn around from dark, full of pain representations of medieval time. Quiet interesting how one can see correlation in Iconographic style development and rapid social and religious changes. It is one of many reasons I enjoy Byzantine Iconography so much, and it is definitely worth of exploring!
ReplyDelete