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BYZANTINE ICONOGRAPHY
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An icon of Jesus Christ with a halo, holding an open book with the Greek letters "ΑΩ" on it, depicted in a traditional religious style with a gold background. View fullsize
A person wearing a red beanie and glasses painting a religious icon with watercolor paints on paper, surrounded by art supplies on a cluttered table. View fullsize
Icon of Jesus Christ holding an open book with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, wearing traditional robes and having a halo behind his head. View fullsize
Christian religious icon depicting Jesus Christ holding a book with Greek letters 'Alpha' and 'Omega', with a gold background and red border. View fullsize
Close-up of a hand holding a compass over a piece of artwork of a woman with flowing hair, painted on a gold-colored surface. View fullsize
Two women sit at a table covered with religious images and art supplies, working on religious iconography paintings. View fullsize
Group of people sitting around tables, painting and coloring coloring pages with various paints and art supplies, in a community setting. View fullsize
An icon of Jesus Christ with a halo, holding an open book with the Greek letters "ΑΩ" on it, depicted in a traditional religious style with a gold background.
A person wearing a red beanie and glasses painting a religious icon with watercolor paints on paper, surrounded by art supplies on a cluttered table.
Icon of Jesus Christ holding an open book with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, wearing traditional robes and having a halo behind his head.
Christian religious icon depicting Jesus Christ holding a book with Greek letters 'Alpha' and 'Omega', with a gold background and red border.
Close-up of a hand holding a compass over a piece of artwork of a woman with flowing hair, painted on a gold-colored surface.
Two women sit at a table covered with religious images and art supplies, working on religious iconography paintings.
Group of people sitting around tables, painting and coloring coloring pages with various paints and art supplies, in a community setting.

Stylization

Stylization poses the patron saint in a heroic manner. Unless a recent photograph exists, there is no attempt to depict the person's actual likeness. Traditionally the image of a saint is painted the same way for many, many years. This is how we know that Saint Peter had white hair and a white beard, and why he is always easily recognized in church.

Stylization also prevents the face of the saint from resembling someone you know, which would create a personal association that lessens your relationship with the image. It would be difficult to venerate an icon of the Virgin Mary if she looked like your aunt Matilda. General attributes such as a short or long white beard are acceptable.

In modern times, especially since photography, real images of a patron may exist, for example Saint John of Shanghai. Even then, it is important to keep a generalized, Byzantine depiction.

Space and perspective

The space in an icon is very shallow, so attention goes to the image and not to the background, unless a background is absolutely necessary. In the Byzantine style, perspective is deliberately speculative. It creates a supra-image that points to a supra-reality, a timelessness not subject to the rules of the physical world but ruled by the supernatural.

BYZANTINE ICON STUDIO

Traditional byzantine icons for your church and home

Toronto, Ontario
byzantinestudio@gmail.com
647.938.7602

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