CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2012
| Author | Prioteasa, Elena Dana |
|---|---|
| Title | Medieval Wall Paintings in Transylvanian Orthodox Churches and Their Donors |
| Summary | The dissertation analyses several iconographic subjects represented in nine medieval Orthodox churches in Romania (Strei, Streisângeorgiu, Sântămărie Orlea, Densuş, Leşnic, Chimindia, Ribiţa, Crişcior and Hălmagiu). In the Middle Ages, the churches were situated on the territory of two neighboring Hungarian counties, Hunyad and Zaránd. The paintings date to the early fourteenth through the second half of the fifteenth century and were commissioned by local Romanian leaders, knezes or voivodes. They were landowners with limited privileges and belonged to the Orthodox rite. The murals are among the few historical sources that remained to document their lives. The paintings draw attention by their unusual stylistic and iconographic features compared to the canon of the Late Byzantine painting. Several iconographic subjects have been selected for the present research. The paintings have been regarded as instruments of communication and have been interpreted in their historical and liturgical contexts. Thus, the analysis of the donor portraits, warrior saints, the Holy Kings of Hungary and the Exaltation of the Cross particularly expose social and political aspects of the knezes’ life. The study of the iconographic program of the sanctuary and of the image of St Bartholomew mainly reveals aspects of their religious life. The results highlight features that are characteristic for the special social, political and religious position of the donors, as knezes and Orthodox in the Hungarian Kingdom. |
| Supervisor | Szakács, Béla Zsolt |
| Department | Medieval Studies PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2012/mphpre01.pdf |
Visit the CEU Library.
© 2007-2021, Central European University