With the conclusion of this year’s Lent and the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the beauty of religious artwork has become more apparent to me. As explored in the foundation year art history courses at Marywood University this year, art and religion have been intertwined since the very beginning. 

Artwork was often used to depict religious matters until humanistic ideas emerged within Greek society, leading to many iconic, classical Greek works. Although religious content is not as frequently drawn by modern artists, its importance remains paramount to followers and appreciators alike. 

For example, The Pantocrator, or the almighty, can be found within the Monreale Cathedral in Sicily. This byzantine mosaic of Christ is an impressive feat of artistic skill. I’m personally extremely fascinated by mosaics, especially of this period. 

Mosaics are extremely difficult to pull off due to their intensive planning and precision. Yet these artists create massive displays of their skill and dedication to their craft. The final product is gorgeous and stunning. Even more so in person!

One thing I did not know was the meaning of “IC XC.” It represents Jesus Christ’s name. In Greek, his name is written as “ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ.” If the first and last letters of each word are taken, we are given “IΣ XΣ.” The character “Σ” is also represented by a different character that looks like a “C.” So, we are given the Greek shorthand of the name Jesus Christ as “IC XC.”

Although some may be turned off by the strange anatomy, depictions, or perspective of Byzantine artwork (or in general, earlier artworks), I find it very endearing. In a way, it comes off as otherworldly. Something beyond our knowledge and time. As if it were not something we could grasp in the way we do the rest of our world. In my mind, it creates a separation between the artwork, the reality, and the ethereal. It’s a really hard concept to describe, however, I think the inaccuracies and the departure from strict realism adds a level of depth to these artworks. 

For example, in Hodegetria, we see a depiction of Mary and Jesus Christ. It’s not terribly off anatomy-wise, but the elongation of features adds an almost alien-like element. The stiff poses and limited color palette is something I enjoy quite a lot. 

The addition of the circles behind their heads to represent halos makes the piece also feel more geometric and stylized while also helping depict the importance of these two figures.

Finally, I have one last thing to share, unrelated to Byzantine artwork. That being: the “Sacred Heart.” Most people have likely seen a depiction of Jesus Christ similar to this:

Until looking further into religious artwork, I never questioned what exactly these pieces of artwork meant. I would glance at them, acknowledge them, and move on without much of a thought. But the symbolism within this piece is quite lovely.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a prominent symbol among Catholics. This symbol represents his love, mercy, and the sacrifice he made to cleanse humanity of their sins. Devotion to the Sacred Heart includes many rituals and a set of promises to help grow closer to Christ and pay homage to him. The Sacred Heart itself is depicted as a heart with a crown of thorns wrapped around it, a wound on the bottom of the heart, flames emerging from the top of the heart, and a cross at the very top. The heart represents Jesus’s love, the thorns his sacrifice, the wound his pain from being stabbed and bearing the sins of humanity, the flames the purifying power of his love, and the cross showing his redemptive sacrifice and love for humanity. 

In many of these depictions, Jesus is also giving the sign of blessing. He is also sometimes depicted with holes in his hands from his crucifixion. 

Overall, the love and thought placed into religious artwork is something I find quite fascinating. It is rich with symbolism, care, and thought. Even if a person is not religious, as artists, we can take notes on how to incorporate symbolism and whatnot or just enjoy the beauty of a person’s passions manifested. 

Featured Image: https://www.guardofhonor-usa.org/is-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-blessing-you

Pantocrator: https://www.thecollector.com/byzantine-art-iconography

IC XC Information: https://restlesspilgrim.net/blog/2011/05/03/ic-xc/

Hodegetria: https://www.thecollector.com/byzantine-art-iconography

Jesus with Sacred Heart: https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-catholic-answers-guide

Sacred Heart Information: https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-catholic-answers-guide