Hierotopic Approaches to Representations of God in the Visual Culture of the High and Late Middle Ages
Hierotopic Approaches to Representations of God in the Visual Culture of the High and Late Middle Ages

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines various approaches of representation of God in the visual culture of the EuropeanHigh and Late Middle Ages, with a particular focus on spatial and symbolic depictions. Methodologically,it engages with contemporary visual theories articulated by Whitney Davis, Hans Belting, andAlexei Lidov. The research investigates worshippers’ multisensory perception of the deity throughthe framework of hierotopy, or the creation of sacred spaces. The study acknowledges the impactof medieval theological thought, on these representations, particularly of St. Augustine of Hippo.It aims to contribute to the scholarly discourse on the creation of sacred spaces. By examining theinterconnections between theology, liturgy, and iconography, the author aims to elucidate the methodsemployed to depict the divine in medieval visual culture and to identify connections between medievalvisuality and theological concepts. The primary objective is to address how the divine entity can bevisually represented in space, through both, mental and physical images.

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