Byzantine Art Themes

Byzantine art, especially Byzantine icons, can be commonly be referred to as sacred art. As described by art historian, Herbert Read, Byzantine art is “the purest form of religious art that Christianity has experienced.” (Cavarnos, pg. 25). Due to Byzantine art’s deep rooting in the Christian faith, most of the depictions of this art period are religious figures. Most of the icons are closely associated with wooden panel painting (Brooks, p. 1). The many themes found within Byzantine art are, representations of holy people and holy events (Cavarnos, pg. 27). The most common people and events represented are Christ, the Virgin Mary, the biblical story of Salvation and the lives of the saints (Durand, p. 10). Byzantine icons are the most common and more recognized art pieces of …show more content…
George slaying the dragon. The young maiden, possibly the princess, is also depicted in the artwork, however she is not up in the tower with her family. Instead she is down on the steps of watching as St. George is slaying the dragon, and ultimately is saving her life. The icon of St. George slaying the dragon serves the functions of Byzantium society as it would have enhanced the beauty of the church, served as a reminder of the teachings of Christian Orthodox faith, and allowed people to seek the imitation of the virtues of the people depicted in these images. It enhanced the beauty of the church as through the colors and symbolisms found in the image itself. As stated earlier, St. George is depicted with a halo surrounding his head. This halo is depicted in a gold color, which in represents the sanctity of St. George (Cavarnos, p. 30). The symbolism of certain colors is evident in many Byzantine icons, with this icon being no exception. On the icon, red is especially evident, and the symbolism of the color red is parallel to importance in Byzantine art. Although most colors on the icon have a specific