Joseph the Good and Saint Joseph. The Surprises of an Ecclesiastic Iconographic Programme in 18th Century Transylvania
Joseph the Good and Saint Joseph. The Surprises of an Ecclesiastic Iconographic Programme in 18th Century Transylvania
Author(s): Silvia Marin BarutcieffSubject(s): Cultural history, Visual Arts, Social history, 18th Century, History of Art
Published by: Universität Graz
Keywords: Joseph the Good; Saint Joseph; Romanian history; 18th Century Transylvania; Iconographic Programme;
Summary/Abstract: In the last quarter of the 18th century Transylvania, a Romanian painter proposes a totally unexpected visual discourse in a Greek-Catholic wooden church. The mural painting of the nave contains two portraits of the emperor Joseph II, not placed in the donors’ area. The idea to have a political portrait in a sacred programme represents a novelty for the Greek-Catholic (and also Orthodox) iconographic discourse. This paper aims to analyse the new type of composition imagined by the mentioned artist as well as the affective and ideological significations attached to it. The presentation intends to put in perspective this imagery which highlights the imperial loyalty and the collective attachment to the notorious Habsburg emperor.
Journal: Yearbook of the Society for 18th Century Studies on South Eastern Europe
- Issue Year: 2019
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 6-21
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English
