The Votive Portrait
Although it doesn’t belong to the Byzantine iconographic repertory, whenever the donation is a church, icon or illuminated manuscript, the votive portrait may be part of the dedicatory work of art.
As far as the composition is concerned , the donor portrait is similar to the orans theme: the donor is depicted full-length, profile or semi-profile, looking towards the Holy Virgin or towards Jesus Christ, usually shown as Pantocrator. The donor is presented in a respectful , submissive posture, with bowed shoulders and head, hands raised and palms open, regarding towards the main character. Contrasting the posture of pious humility is the donor’s clothing, the richest and most opulent ceremonial vestments together with the marks of social or ecclesiastical rank being always displayed.
The votive portrait may be collective when the donor is represented together with family members.
Variants of the theme show the donor kneeling or in the proskynesis posture. In later developments, the donor may hold in his hands, offering, a miniature model of his donation.
Although it doesn’t belong to the Byzantine iconographic repertory, whenever the donation is a church, icon or illuminated manuscript, the votive portrait may be part of the dedicatory work of art.
As far as the composition is concerned , the donor portrait is similar to the orans theme: the donor is depicted full-length, profile or semi-profile, looking towards the Holy Virgin or towards Jesus Christ, usually shown as Pantocrator. The donor is presented in a respectful , submissive posture, with bowed shoulders and head, hands raised and palms open, regarding towards the main character. Contrasting the posture of pious humility is the donor’s clothing, the richest and most opulent ceremonial vestments together with the marks of social or ecclesiastical rank being always displayed.
The votive portrait may be collective when the donor is represented together with family members.
Variants of the theme show the donor kneeling or in the proskynesis posture. In later developments, the donor may hold in his hands, offering, a miniature model of his donation.
