Brother Kasianos of Pantokrator, Painted Crucifix

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Brother Kasianos of Pantokrator, Painted Crucifix, egg tempera and gold leaf on panel, early 21st century

Christ appears dead on the cross, with his head slumped on his shoulder, and blood streaming from wounds in his hands, feet and right side. The image of the Crucifixion has been interpreted differently throughout history, and following Iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries, there was a shift from prior images of Christ’s triumph over death on the cross to a primary focus on the deceased Christ as a way of emphasizing his full humanity. While large-scale painted crosses surmount the iconostasis (screen of icons) in the Athonite churches, small-scale crucifixes such as this one are designed for private devotion, especially by monks who desire to become Christ-like, and at the time of their initiation become symbolically dead to the world.

Catalogue
Brother Kasianos of Pantokrator, Painted Crucifix