Our life through art: Daniel Esteban Castillo Castellanos Partial Proyect II

Saint George from a Set of Medallions from an Icon Frame

Anonymous

Byzantine, late 11th-early 12th century
Gold, silver, and cloisonné enamel
Diam. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, N.Y. (17.190.674)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The glory of Byzantium”. 2000. 05/10/10

Why does it represent the history of that time?

This ornament shows an image of Saint George, one of the most important characters for the people in that time. Let’s remember: this period of art is named the byzantine or early Christian art, so obviously all the artworks are based on religious themes and represent scenes or characters of the Christian religion. In that time, having faith in god and being a Christian, giving all their lives to god was the only thing that mattered, so the objective of this representations where to adore all the religious figures and to teach in an easy way, to people about Christianity. They used art because it was easier to be learned than being read, taking in count the enormous analphabetism that reigned among people in that time.

Why does it represent the culture of that time?

As I have already said, religion (Christianity in this case) was the most important issue for people in that time. Science started to be studied some time later so an explanation for all the things that happened around was that there was an all-mighty god that all could do and all could know, so it had an important impact to society and arts. Representing all of these religious images in art was a way of adoring god and divine characters and learning every day something new about the history of Christianity and also to remind people who they would have to obey.

Why and what does it represent something you really fond of that time or period?

There are many characteristics that define all of the artworks that where made in this particular period. “Byzantine paintings and mosaics are characterized by a rich use of color and figures which seem flat and stiff. The figures also tend to appear to be floating, and to have large eyes. Backgrounds tend to be solidly golden or toned.” This image of Saint George shows the same characteristics: it is very colorful, it seems flat and stiff and it has large eyes. We can appreciate these characteristics in the caverns where they used to mass and the representations of Jesus, god and all of the saints. They also tended to use many color mosaics to create images that seemed like it was one.

Why do you like that particular artist that much?

I like this one very much because it has very bright colors and shows in a simple image the divinity of the saint shown and the greatness of the Christian religion, which you can observe with only looking at the saint and all the little details it has like the letters or the saint himself or the things he is carrying.

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