Master of Nerezi
Master of Nerezi is the emergency name of a fresco painter who is not known by name and who decorated the church of St. Panteleimon in Gorno Nerezi (Macedonian: Горно Нерези) near today's North Macedonian capital Skopje with wall paintings around 1165 . The architecture and frescoes of the church are considered to be an outstanding monument of Byzantine art of the reign of one of the last important rulers of Byzantium , Manuel I. Comnenus .
Donor of the frescoes
The church and probably the painting were donated by Prince Alexios Angelos Komnenos in 1164 . The prince was a member of the imperial family of the Comnenes.
Master's style and importance in art history
The Lamentation of Christ is a special and well-known picture from the cycle of frescoes painted by the Master of Nerezi . Through the liveliness and participation of the represented figures in the events, the master developed a previously formulaic, rigid Byzantine painting style significantly. Nevertheless, he remains largely committed to traditional Byzantine iconography; in the pictures he expresses the ideals of faith of his time, region and religion such as B. especially in the images that glorify the enthroned majesty of God ( Pantocrator , here as a priest) and the Mother of God in glory. Cultural exchange between Constantinople and z. B. Florence then seems to bring the style between tradition and innovation, as developed by the master of Nerezi, to Italy.
Giotto and the style of the master of Nerezi
Giotto was clearly influenced by such Byzantine painting as that of the master . His Lamentation of Christ in the Cappella degli Scrovegni in Padua z. B. shows parallels to the composition of the master von Nerezi, who worked almost a hundred years earlier. Giotto takes over the motif and now gives the figures more space and dimension. In the sometimes controversial discussion of the importance of a Byzantine influence on the beginnings of Renaissance art , the work of the Master of Nerezi can be an example, such as medieval Italian fresco painters such as the Master of Francis and Giotto, or the painters of crucifixes such as the master of the blue crosses Byzantine iconography saw and developed an image from it that began a life and suffering-related depiction of Christ, a world-based contemplation in contrast to glorifying hagiography .
Restoration of the frescoes
After an earthquake in 1515, the church was restored and some of the pictures in the upper and middle areas of the church interior were repainted. In further attempts at restoration around 1885, further frescoes were painted over in the central nave in a poor quality, and in 1923 the original frescoes were exposed again.
Image program
Church interior
The Church of Nerezi is a Byzantine cross- domed church with five domes.
Life of Mary and Passion of Christ
The central area of the church is decorated with scenes from the life of Mary , such as: B. in the east the birth of Mary, the Annunciation and the birth of Christ. Next z. B. in the West the life and passion of Christ is represented, such as B. Representation in the temple, descent from the cross and lamentation, but also transfiguration .
Saints
Below the images of the life of Mary and the Passion, important saints of the Eastern Church are depicted, including Arsenius of Scete , John of Damascus , Joseph the Hymnographer, Makarios the Egyptians , Paulus of Thebes , Theophanes Graptos and Theodor Studites as well as other holy monks and scholars. But also some holy fighters are depicted in Byzantine armor.
Church patron
The patron saint of the church, Panteleimon (Pantaleon), is depicted in one of the archivolts with his attributes as a doctor and healer.
Christ and Mary
A smaller round fresco shows Christ as High Priest of the Eucharist and other images of Mary in glory.
Individual evidence
- ↑ see I. Sinkević: The Church of St. Panteleimon at Nerezi: Architecture, Programs, Patronage . Reichert, Wiesbaden 2000
- ^ Giotto: In: HW Janson, F. Janson: History of Art: The Western Tradition. Pearson Education, Prentice Hall London, Sydney et al., July 2003 (6th edition)
- ↑ s. especially A. Graham-Dixon: Renaissance . University of California Press 2000
- ^ J. Wharton: "Nerezi". In: Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, New York / Oxford, 1991
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Master of Nerezi |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | West Byzantine medieval painter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 12th Century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 12th century or 13th century |