Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nikitas]

Iconography, to get back to the subject at hand, is a specialist style of painting and people do study it, and they do get apprenticed. A friend of mine is a modern day iconographer, and does work for churches both original icons and frescoes as well as restoring older ones. Doing frescoes is gruelling work, often they paint lying down, looking up at the ceiling for days on end.

Part of the learning is involved in discoverin the materials and techniques used by the iconographers of the past so that the same materials can be used to day, especially in restoration work.

As for the looting of churches, several people in the north have turned it into a major export business. It is not just a case of vandalising the enemy's monuments. Icons from churches have turned up in the antique stores in almost every major city in Europe and the USA and some even in Athens via Istanbul. Which leads one to ask why not employ a modern day famous iconographer to make a copy, sign it and thus have the icon and also leave the original alone.

[pantheman]

Talisker, thank you for those stunning pictures!!!! What a beautiful Church, I hope I can visit one day...........

Tess

.... Sounds ominously like a threat

Have the Turks finished looting and desecrating all the Churches in the north?

Why not come over and see? Someone as "special and precious" as you might event warrant a military escort!!!!

With you murdering lot, she will bloody well need it too!

No one is safe there.

[pantheman]

Talisker, thank you for those stunning pictures!!!! What a beautiful Church, I hope I can visit one day...........

Tess

.... Sounds ominously like a threat

Have the Turks finished looting and desecrating all the Churches in the north?

Why not come over and see? Someone as "special and precious" as you might event warrant a military escort!!!!

Good answer Tess! Really made me smile

Bubbles x

Would that be the same smile you make whilst you are having a shit??

[Talisker]

Iconography, to get back to the subject at hand, is a specialist style of painting and people do study it, and they do get apprenticed. A friend of mine is a modern day iconographer, and does work for churches both original icons and frescoes as well as restoring older ones. Doing frescoes is gruelling work, often they paint lying down, looking up at the ceiling for days on end.

Part of the learning is involved in discoverin the materials and techniques used by the iconographers of the past so that the same materials can be used to day, especially in restoration work.

As for the looting of churches, several people in the north have turned it into a major export business. It is not just a case of vandalising the enemy's monuments. Icons from churches have turned up in the antique stores in almost every major city in Europe and the USA and some even in Athens via Istanbul. Which leads one to ask why not employ a modern day famous iconographer to make a copy, sign it and thus have the icon and also leave the original alone.

Nikitas, Thanks for the info on the iconographers. About 15 years ago we bought a beautiful handpainted icon in Athens, a quality copy and not a looted antique original I'm pleased to say. We have a few of different styles around the house including one of those heavy silver ones. I hung this from a hook on a wall within the house, and one time noticed it was squint and went to straighten it. To my astonishment I noticed it was not being held up by the wall hook, apparently the hook and clasp had disengaged, but somehow it was defying gravity and not falling to the floor. Hardly a miracle, but kind of spooky nonetheless........
Regards,
Talisker

[webbo]

Talisker, thank you for those stunning pictures!!!! What a beautiful Church, I hope I can visit one day...........

Tess

No problem, Tess, these are the only images I could find on the web, and although they are pretty good, like most photographs they do not do justice to reality. By chance I met the architect in Paphos many years ago, but hadn't visited the church at that time and didn't have the bundle of questions for him I now have. I hope you get the chance to visit St Raphael church sometime - it really is worth it.
Regards,
Talisker

I visited the old Kykkos monastery in Troodos where they also have a museum, have you been there?
Tess

I have followed by the visit to Makarios grave. I think this is compulsory when you visit Cyprus, yes?

Bubbles x

[webbo]

Talisker, thank you for those stunning pictures!!!! What a beautiful Church, I hope I can visit one day...........

Tess

.... Sounds ominously like a threat

Have the Turks finished looting and desecrating all the Churches in the north?

Why not come over and see? Someone as "special and precious" as you might event warrant a military escort!!!!

Good answer Tess! Really made me smile

Bubbles x

Would that be the same smile you make whilst you are having a shit??

That's a bit personal don't you think? But, if you really want to know, I can send you a PM!

Bubbles x

[pantheman]

Talisker, thank you for those stunning pictures!!!! What a beautiful Church, I hope I can visit one day...........

Tess

.... Sounds ominously like a threat

Have the Turks finished looting and desecrating all the Churches in the north?

Why not come over and see? Someone as "special and precious" as you might event warrant a military escort!!!!

Good answer Tess! Really made me smile

Bubbles x

Would that be the same smile you make whilst you are having a shit??

That's a bit personal don't you think? But, if you really want to know, I can send you a PM!

Bubbles x

No need dear, i know it will contain just two words and the second one will be OFF!

[webbo]

Talisker, thank you for those stunning pictures!!!! What a beautiful Church, I hope I can visit one day...........

Tess

.... Sounds ominously like a threat

Have the Turks finished looting and desecrating all the Churches in the north?

Why not come over and see? Someone as "special and precious" as you might event warrant a military escort!!!!

Good answer Tess! Really made me smile

Bubbles x

Would that be the same smile you make whilst you are having a shit??

That's a bit personal don't you think? But, if you really want to know, I can send you a PM!

Bubbles x

No need dear, i know it will contain just two words and the second one will be OFF!

NEVER! I am a lady (no quips needed thank you!)

I would have given you an honest answer - honest!

bubbles x

[Talisker]

Part of the learning is involved in discoverin the materials and techniques used by the iconographers of the past so that the same materials can be used to day, especially in restoration work.

Sounds interesting, I'm presuming these are (natural) oil-based paints, with colours produced from various powdered minerals, plants, etc? Would the monasteries on Mount Athos be a centre for iconography apprenticeships?

[Nikitas]

Talisker,

In Mount Athos there are priests who are graduate materials scientists who are involved in the research and documentation of icons. THeir work includes sophisticated technology like laser scanners, Xrays etc to read below the present icon and determine if there was a previous layer, literally a whole other icon. IT was not unusual for old icons to be used as boards for new painting. I cannot remember the name of the monastery where this work is carried out, I can find it out for you if you want. Despite appearances, Mount Athos is a surprisingly modern place sometimes!

And you are right, paints were mostly oils with ground pigments made from minerals etc. This is not evidence that I am an icon lover, I learned it because of another hobby altogether where linseed oil is used. So I pestered my iconographer friend for information, which he generously provided. Some amazing colors can be made with ground rock, like lapis, mixed in with oil or egg yolk. A French painter (not icons) working in Greece has used ground marble for his paints and the effect is spectacular.