Model – Image Relation in Christian Art and Its Research. Some Remarks on Treatises on Painting, Model Books and Hermeneiai Zographikes Cover Image
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Model – Image Relation in Christian Art and Its Research. Some Remarks on Treatises on Painting, Model Books and Hermeneiai Zographikes
Model – Image Relation in Christian Art and Its Research. Some Remarks on Treatises on Painting, Model Books and Hermeneiai Zographikes

Author(s): Emmanuel Moutafov
Subject(s): History, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Middle Ages, 15th Century, History of Art
Published by: Институт за изследване на изкуствата, Българска академия на науките

Summary/Abstract: This essay is dedicated to some methodological, terminological and geocultural problems related to the model – image interactions in Byzantine, Western and Premodern art on the Balkans, commenting some differences in Russian tradition as well. The author supports the supposition of Robin Cormack that the Orthodox icon painters before 15th century have memorized the images by constantly drawing and copying them, while the memorized models were a testimony about the process of training the visual memory. In conclusion the author states that on the Balkans religious images of known and of acquired canonical status monuments were used as models. Unlike the Russian tradition, model books in the full sense of the term did not exist, but there were preparatory sketches or collections of images that were used for ideas or sometimes for icon templates.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 9-20
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: English, Bulgarian