Donor Portraits in Byzantine Art - The Vicissitudes of Contact Between Human and Divine

Explores the complex relationship between art and religious belief in this important genre of painting.

List of contents

Introduction: methodologies for the study of donor portraits; 1. The history and problematic of the donor portrait; 2. On meaning in portraits. The knot of intention and the question of the patron's share; 3. Awaiting the end after the end. Sin, absolution, and the afterlife; 4. Exchange and non-exchange. The gift between human and divine; 5. The literal, the symbolic, and the contact portrait. On belief in the interaction between human and divine; Postscript: the problem of terminology again. Donor portraits and contact portraits.

About the author

Rico Franses is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts and Art History, American University of Beirut, and Director of the University Art Galleries and Collections.

Summary

Argues that donor portraits in Byzantine art should instead be considered as contact portraits. Contends that the most important feature of the scenes of supplication between mortals and holy, supernatural interlocutors consists in the active role that they play within the belief systems of the supplicants.

Product details

• Authors: Rico Franses, Rico (American University of Beirut) Franses, Franses Rico
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.11.2018
• EAN: 9781108418591
• ISBN: 978-1-108-41859-1
• No. of pages: 260
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Middle Ages; European History, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Archaeology, CE period up to c 1500, Medieval History, History of Art, Archaeology, History of art: Byzantine & Medieval art c 500 CE to c 1400, History and Archaeology, European history: medieval period, middle ages, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, Medieval style, ART / History / European / Medieval