The Mother of God: representations of the Virgin in Byzantine art

A complete survey of the representation of the Virgin in Byzantine art through a wide selection of works in all media. Icons, illuminated manuscripts, ivories, metalworks, marble reliefs and textiles, dating from the 6th to the 14th century coming from the Benaki Museum in Athens and from many other major public and private collections worldwide. This is the most original and up-to-date publication on the subject, in which art-historical, historical, iconographic and theological issues are brought together for the first time in an effort to cover all aspects of the cult and representation of the Mother of God. Cover Preface Foreword Contents I. On the cult and theology of the Virgin The early cult of the Virgin Constantinople as Theotokopolis The Mother of God in the iconoclastic controversy The maternal side of the Virgin Miracle-working icons of the Mother of God The Virgin Mary in the texts of the Gospels On the information concerning the Virgin Mary contained in the apocryphal gospels II. Representing the Virgin With the paintbrush of the Evangelist Luke The Mother of God in apse mosaics The Mother of God in the mosaics of Hagia Sophia at Constantinople The Mother of God in wall-paitings The Mother of God in portable icons The Mother of God in illuminated manuscripts The Mother of God in ivory The Mother of God in enamel The Mother of God in steatite The Mother of God in metalwork: silver plate and revetments The Mother of God on coins and lead seals The Mother of God in Coptic textiles The Mother of God in jewellery The Mother of God in sculpture III. The catalogue Section one. Early representations of the Mother of God Section two. The cult of the Mother of God in private Section three. The Mother of God in public Section four. The veneration of the Virgin Hodegetria and the Hodegon Monastery Section five. Between East and West Section six. Representations of the Virgin and their association with the passion of Christ Bibliography / Glossary / Index Bibliography Glossary Index Photographic credits