Visual Analysis Of The Christ Icon

Sarah Power
Visual Art Analysis
Christ, Monastery of Saint Catherine, Egypt
ARHS 1010
March 16, 2018

Many unique and captivating pieces of art emerged from the Byzantine Empire, one of which was the Christ Icon, also known as, Christ Pantocrator, meaning "Christ, sustainer of all". The Christ Icon is located at the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Egypt. The monastery is tucked in the lower mount ranges of Mount Sinai, in the Southern Egyptian Peninsula. The painting was made shortly after the Monistat in the mid-6th century A.D. and was thought to have been a gift to emperor Constantine the fist. The monastery itself has been a place of worship and admiration for well over one thousand years, with the Christ Icon being one if its

most prized possessions. Because of the Christ Icon's unique construction, interesting contextual details and fascinating history, it is an incredible and timeless masterpiece.
The earliest traces of the Byzantine empire date back to 330 A.D, with Constantine I's development of Byzantium or "New Rome." The empire did not end until the Ottoman takeover in 1453 AD. Five years prior, Constantine established Christianity, which was once a sect of Judaism, as Rome's official language. Christianity became not only a religion but a lifestyle for the people of the Byzantine Empire. Because of this, the Icon of Christ was incredibly important to the North African people under Byzantine rule and beyond.
It is not only the icon's religious significance that is remarkable, but also the way in which it was made.

The Christ Icon is an encaustic painting. This process of painting uses melted beeswax mixed with color pigment and applied to a wooden slab. Paint brushes and hot metal tools are then used to melt and manipulate the paint into the form desired by the artist. This form of painting was common during the Byzantine Empire, as its rich textured color withstood the elements and created an impressive and unique shine. The gloss finish that many professional painters use today was sparked by emulating the durability, and quality of paintings form this time period. Other famous works form the Byzantine empire, such as St. Peter and of A Woman from Al-Fayum, were made using the melted beeswax technique, and, because of this, process similar qualities as the Christ Icon to this

day.
In addition to the construction of the Icon, its contextual elements are also remarkable. The painting portrays Christ with dark eyes and hair, wearing a dark tunic. This beautifully contrasts the golden halo that shines around Christ's head. In his right-hand Christ hold three fingers together which is thought to have been a blessing, representing the holy trinity. In his left hand he holds a book of the gospel which is decorated with precious gemstones in the shape of a cross. Behind his head is a hillside with scattered buildings, which signifies that Christ was outside, possibly giving a public sermon. In addition, in the upper right and left corners of the painting, there is an eight-pronged star which is thought to symbolize the eighth day, when Christ was resurrected.
When viewers see the icon, they are at fist taken back by the melancholy feel and asymmetry of the work.

The eyes and mouth are slanted creating a strange and captivating feel. Art historians over the years have separated the two halves of the Christ Icon, pairing each side with a more symmetrical representation of the other half of the face. This process revealed the duality of Christ which the painter was attempting to capture. On the left side of his face, Christ appears to be an ordinary, youthful man who would not attract any attention when walking through town. On the right side, Christ is a much older and more divine individual who appears to be glowing. This duality represented the belief that Christ is both omnipotent and ordinary. The two halves of the Christ Icon are an impressive demonstration the immense talent of the artist in making divine religious values appear to the viewer thought

art.
The Christ icon is highly regarded not only for its beauty but also because it is one of the only remaining paintings made using hot wax from the Byzantine Empire. This is due to the wave of iconoclasm which began in the eighth century A.D. The movement destroyed significant quantities of religious art, which greatly impacted that of the Byzantine empire. Iconoclasm was sparked by Emperor Leo III, who felt that representing religious symbols though everyday artwork was morally wrong as it belittled the divinity and significance of the figures portrayed. Many believed that those who were worshiping the art forms were worshiping the art itself, or the artists abilities, rather than the religious icon depicted. An artist's ability to create a divine being in such a seemingly simple and ordinary way was seen, by many, as a threat to the catholic faith. Emperor Michael III finally ended iconoclasm in 843 A.D. when he spoke in favor of artistic depictions of holy figures. Despite the violence, artwork such as the Christ Icon was saved as they were hidden away in the Monastery of St Catherine and were protected under territorial Muslim rule at the time.
The monastery of Saint Catherine, also known as Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai, is located where Moses was thought to receive the tablet of the law in the oldest testament. Because of this, the monastery was originally known as the Monastery of Transfiguration. Within the building there are six major chapels, one of which, known as the Holy of Holies was thought to be built upon the location of the burning bush. It is speculated that the Christ Icon was located at the chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary which is considered the most sacred part of the monastery. In Front of the monastery, lies extensive cemeteries and gardens with a path leading up to its main entrance. Inside, there are dugout brick pathways with open ceilings as well as many shires, chapels and prayer rooms ranging in size. The monastery is working to this day and because of this is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world.
The Christ Icon is an incredibly powerful piece of art due to the physical, contextual and the historical significance of the piece. The duality of Christ as well as the pigment-based wax which was used to construct it make the icon, makes it a breathtaking work of art. When this construction is coupled with the iconoclastic time period from which the piece survived and the Byzantine Christian values which the icon represented, it becomes clear why many see the Christ Icon as an incredibly significant piece of art. To this day icons depicted on church walls and monastery's, such as those in the Greek Orthodox Church in New Orleans, have artistic elements which are inspired by that of the Byzantine Empire.