Medieval wall paintings in Transylvanian Orthodox churches
Subtitle: iconographic subjects in historical context
By: Elena Dana Prioteasa
Publisher: Editura Academiei Române; Editura Mega
Published: 2016
Place of publication: București; Cluj-Napoca
Language: eng
Number of pages: 375
ISBN-13: 9789732727317; 9786065437807
Subjects: Mural painting and decoration; Hungarian Mural painting and decoration; Medieval Mural painting and decoration; Christianity and art; Orthodox Eastern Church; Church decoration and ornament; Orthodox Eastern church buildings; Christian art and symbolism; Medieval
Description: "This book deals with the religious painting related to the upper class of the Romanians who lived in medieval Transylvania and the neighboring western regions. Because of their social standing and historical chance, some of them left traces in the written sources and material culture of the Hungarian kingdom that survive to this day. Their world was at a crossroads. Socially, they were situated between peasants and full nobles, striving for and sometimes reaching the latter's status. Religiously, they belonged to a Byzantine-rite Church that had to function within a Latin state. Geographically, they lived close to the eastern frontiers of Hungary, a situation that enhanced their military role and therefore favored their social ascent. Artistically, Eastern and Western trends met in this border region. Artistic evidence contributes to our knowledge about the ways these people responded to a diverse and challenging environment."--
Notes: "The research started from the premise that at least some of the wall paintings reflect the special social, political, and religious situation of the donors as knezes and Orthodox (Greek-rite) Christians in the Hungarian kingdom. Topics have been selected from the paintings of eight churches: the church of St. George in Streisângeorgiu (Hu. Sztrigyszentgyörgy), the church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Strei (Hu. Zeykfalva), the church of St. Nicholas in Densuș (Hu. Demsus), the church of St. Nicholas in Leșnic (Hu. Lesnyek/Lesnek), the Reformed church in Sântămăria Orlea (Hu. Őraljaboldogfalva), the church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Crișcior (Hu. Kristyor), the church of St. Nicholas in Ribița (Hu. Ribice), and the church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Hălmagiu (Hu. Nagyhalmágy). The churches were situated in two neighboring medieval counties--Hunyad, in the Transylvanian voivodate, and Zaránd--and the paintings date from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The investigation is limited to Hunyad and Zaránd Counties, where the main body of medieval wall paintings in Orthodox churches has been preserved. In addition, the historical background of the donors is comparable in both regions.

(continued) The pictorial subjects that have been selected for research are interpreted in relation to their social, political, and religious context. The study of the donor portraits, military saints, holy kings of Hungary, and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross focuses on their relevance for the social and political life of the knezes. The study of the paintings in the sanctuaries mainly sheds light on aspects of the religious life of the donors or local communities. The images are analyzed taking into account the use and meaning of their subjects in Eastern and Western, particularly Hungarian, painting, and the available information regarding their historical context. While indeed the pictorial message may be understood only through its historical background, the paintings themselves can also suggest new directions for research or favor a particular interpretation suggested by other types of sources" --Pages 11-12.

Revision of a part of the author's dissertation (doctoral)--Central Europen University, 2011.

"As compared to my doctoral dissertation, this book does not include a study of the overall iconographic program of the sanctuary, which will be published separately in a revised form"--Page 12, footnote.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 195-219) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The social, political, and religious life of the Romanians in late medieval Hungary; title: Historical data on the researched churches and their donors; title: Lay portraits and inscriptions; title: The military saints; title: The holy kings of Hungary; title: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross; title: Orthodoxy of faith, the Greek rite, and the Latin churches in the paintings at Hălmagiu and Ribița; title: Saints Bartholomew and Thomas in the churches at Hălmagiu and Densuș; title: Conclusion; title: Catalog of churches. Crișcior (Hunedoara County) ; Densuș (Hunedoara County) ; Hălmagiu (Arad County) ; Leșnic (Hunedoara County) ; Ribița (Hunedoara County) ; Sântămăria Orlea (Hunedoara County) ; Strei (Hunedoara County) ; Streisângeorgiu (Hunedoara County).