the child Jesus icons

[Amandine]

My boyfriend asked this question the other day...why do icons of Christ when he is a "child" or "baby" show Him fully developed like a little adult? I know there's some theological reason behind it but I couldn't remember the right one.
-Catherine

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

I don't know the answer to your question, but there's also Icons of the Theotokos as a child, and she looks exactly the same, just smaller. I love those Icons!

Moses

 

[Michael G]

http://www.comeandseeicons.com/mgo17.htm

Isaiah 7:14
"Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel."

The idea behind showing Christ as an adult, even when an infant, is that he "is begotten of the father before all ages." Christ remained unchangeable God even though he went through the various stages of human development.
I hope this helps.
Michael