Questions about Icons

[Thatgirloncfforums]

These questions were posed by a friend of mine. He wonders what the presidency was in pre-modern Europe.

1)Could anyone make an icon?

2) Was there a distinction between icons and religious art?

3) If there was a distinction, could anyone make religious art?

Thanks

 

[ArmyMatt]

1) technically yes, although it should be done with the blessing to do so and under the direction of an experienced iconographer.

2) yes, and there still is.

3) yes, but see response 1).

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

Father,

Thank you for your patience. It has been very difficult finding information on my own.

A few follow up questions

1) Does one need to be Orthodox to create an icon, provided that they are under the tutelage of an iconographer?

2) What are the main differences between an icon and a religious painting?

1) technically yes, although it should be done with the blessing to do so and under the direction of an experienced iconographer.

2) yes, and there still is.

3) yes, but see response 1).

 

[prodromos]

The Icon: The Unwritten Theology of Divine Light

I'd also recommend "The theology of icons" by Leonid Ouspensky, if you are able to get hold of it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Father,

Thank you for your patience. It has been very difficult finding information on my own.

A few follow up questions

1) Does one need to be Orthodox to create an icon, provided that they are under the tutelage of an iconographer?

2) What are the main differences between an icon and a religious painting?

1. technically no, although to do it right you should.

2. icons are used to aide man’s worship of God.

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

This image comes from the chapel in the Winter Palace:

If I remember correctly, I believe it's positioned above the iconostasis.

Is it considered an icon since it is being employed in a chapel?

Thanks

1. technically no, although to do it right you should.

2. icons are used to aide man’s worship of God.

 

[peregrinus2017]

1) Does one need to be Orthodox to create an icon, provided that they are under the tutelage of an iconographer?

In my limited experience, many icons I have seen done by non-Orthodox, tend to import a western, or perhaps modern sense of symmetry and aesthetics. I find it jarring, and detrimental to the purpose of the icon. But I'm kinda sensitive to such things, some might say picky.

The image you posted above I personally can't conceive of aiding my worship of God.
It's so busy and dramatic and earthly. There definitely was some western influence at times in the art of the Russian Orthodox church.

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

B10_F2_H271_The_Great_Church

The artist was trained in Rome

A chapel as a whole is dedicated to God's glory. And since the whole chapel is created in the Baroque style, a highly ornamented Western import, I am perplexed by what constitutes "aid in worship" in this instance.

Thanks

 

[ArmyMatt]

This image comes from the chapel in the Winter Palace:

View attachment 315967
If I remember correctly, I believe it's positioned above the iconostasis.

Is it considered an icon since it is being employed in a chapel?

Thanks

it might be treated as such, but an icon isn’t supposed to be dynamic or inspire emotion. it’s supposed to help you visually pray, to go beyond what you can see, not hold your attention like that image does.

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I will pass them along to my friend.

 

[ArmyMatt]

no problem!