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Rus: Orthodox Ikonography - Part 4 - Subjects and Mediums

© Dr. Donald R. Houston

Rus: Orthodox Ikonography - Part 4 - Subjects & Mediums

Orthodox icons are presently undergoing a Renaissance after the fall of Communist rule in Eastern Europe. Apart from their religious use ikons are a coveted art object for art collectors for their beauty and charm.

It was the decrees of the 7th Ecumenical Council, which made ikonography is indispensable because they serve to teach us and illustrate to us the mystery of the presence of God in our world. Ikons are not merely representations of a worldly reality. They are not just simply religious pictures or religious art. What they truly are and become are totally dynamic manifestations of man's spiritual power to redeem creation through beauty in an artistic manner.

In this time many new mediums are being used to depict ikonography as never before. Metal alloys such as aluminum, pewter, stainless steel, & chromo-titanium are being machined, cast, carved, welded & otherwise shaped into the classic or neo-classic ikons that follow the basic parameters that govern ikonography.

Embroidered ikons go back many hundreds of years usually on silk or linen and with a havy usage of metallic threads. Today much of this is being not by hand in the time honored way but but by computer-controlled machines using materials such a nylon, acrylan, rayon, and other modern synthetic fabrics and threads.

Three dimensional carvings more like statues are being produced as ikons. Some are carved from wood but some use modern materials such as lucite, glass, lead and quartz crystals, leather, ivory, bone, many types of exotic woods. Some are still carved by hand but many are now being carved using lasers or other computerized machinery. Semi-precious stones such as turquoise, jade, malachite, rhodium, and others are being used as a medium for the ikonographer to present his/her art.

Traditional ikons are still in demand but the newer presentations, mediums and styles are equally being accepted and sued even in the churches and cathedrals. Modern ikonnographic artists are trained in the use and function of mediums never used prior to this time and their works are brilliant in style, composition and medium.

Often times one wonders what is the subject matter of an ikon. What is is depicting or whom is it depicting? The ikons depeict religious events such as the baptism of Jesus, the last Supper, the Crucifixion, the martyrdom of John th bpatist and other siants. They are used to depict the arkangels, Apostles, members of the nobility who were consodered to be pious, holy and worthy. Events that depict happenings described in the Old Testament or the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Often times they depict the ancient Jewish forefathers of the Judeo-Christian faiths such Abraham, Isasac, Moses, David, Solomon and others. They can depict a biographical series of venets in a saint's life or another subject'slife as well.

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