Western-style Icons

[Matariel]

I’m not a Russian Orthodox; I’m just a mere Latin Catholic so it would be better to not delve into something that is not technically within my bounds.

Good idea, wouldn’t want to get involved in an Eastern ordeal. I’m a recent convert to the Church; I’m a Latin-Rite Catholic also. Are there many Catholic churches were you are?

Sure! Why did you need to ask?

Well, I don’t add people without permission. It’s an honourary thing to be on my Buddy List, only a few make it.

When I ask, I’m also giving permission to be put on other Buddy Lists too.

 

[patrick457]

Good idea, wouldn’t want to get involved in an Eastern ordeal. I’m a recent convert to the Church; I’m a Latin-Rite Catholic also. Are there many Catholic churches were you are?

No, sadly. The only Christian church close to my house is a Baptist church. The nearest Catholic one is somewhere around thirty minutes from here.

Well, I don’t add people without permission. It’s an honourary thing to be on my Buddy List, only a few make it.

When I ask, I’m also giving permission to be put on other Buddy Lists too.

Okey-dokey then.

 

[Pani_Rose]

Now that is where we part ways it seems. Personally, I think traditional icons are fine as they are, even if they lack any (artistic) perspective or depth.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/103743273_83f46bbefb.jpg?v=0

Here’s an early icon (from the 7th century!) of St. Peter which has a bit more artistic realism than modern-day ones, in a sense.

It is as though he is sitting there in front of you. Interesting, that they caught that intensity.

Here is an interesting article on iconography
74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:wfgYEUjb7QEJ:www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~tim/CoCo2_FinalPaper.pdf+renaissance+influence+on+russian+iconography&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us&client=firefox-a

 

[adstrinity]

Please explain what you mean by “cartoony”?

As an ikon painter, I’d be interested in knowing how an ikon can be a cartoon…

You mean you’re an Icon Writter. One doesn’t paint Icons, one writes Icons. You said that just to see who knew this, didn’t you?

Oh, it’s a Master Piece all right. It comes from the very 1st Christian Nation and they have been painting in this style for almost 2 millenium… it’s from the Kingdom of Ethiopia…

The very first Christian Nation is Armenia. Ask any Armenian.

Maybe if I knew the animus behind the Eastern icons… like, what is the reason for them being so flat or the fact that objects, like books or thrones, are irregularly formed to how they would be in real life?

I didn’t see Patrick state this and I don’t know if it’s covered in the article, but, the one thing about Icons is there is always something off about them. The reason they look so flat and off is deliberate because the depth perception is purposely distorted. This is to make it easier to focus/concentrate on the Icon. Something, SOMETHING, is always off (traditionally), but, your mind, unless you study Icons, can’t say what because all your brain sees is the picture.

 

[Pani_Rose]

A dear friend from Romania sent this iconography of/on a church that is being restored. Can you imagine, it is truly a sight to behold Glory to God!

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4960/3/45/87/49/19/8/819498745307_0_ALB.jpg

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4960/3/45/87/49/29/2/229498745307_0_ALB.jpg

Here you can see the windows in the Church, this iconography is on the outside of the Church.

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4960/3/45/87/49/29/5/529498745307_0_ALB.jpg

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4960/3/45/87/49/29/8/829498745307_0_ALB.jpg

 

[patrick457]

You mean you’re an Icon Writter. One doesn’t paint Icons, one writes Icons. You said that just to see who knew this, didn’t you?

Actually, the word “to write” an icon is from the Greek word grapheo, which has a dual meaning and could also mean “to paint.” So while “writing” an icon is the preferred term by some, saying that one “paints” an icon is technically not incorrect, as the word grapheo covers both terms.

 

[Patchunky]

You mean you’re an Icon Writter. One doesn’t paint Icons, one writes Icons. You said that just to see who knew this, didn’t you?

Not really… I’ve studied with several Orthodox ikonographers, both Russian trained and American trained, and they all say they paint ikons.

If you ask a Russian ikonographer, “Вы пишете иkoHa?”(do you write ikons?)
They will answer “Нет, я крашу их.” (No, I paint them. Or more literally, I color them".

It seems, from what I’ve learned my ikon teachers, that the idea of “writing” ikons is a mis-translation of the Russian term ikonpisatil - literally, ikon-writer. It’s seems to have started in the Anglican church and then spread to the Roman Catholic church and those who are teaching ikon painting there. Not all ikon teachers are passing on good information to their students…