Icon with the Virgin Hodegetria Dexiokratousa

Icon with the Virgin Hodegetria Dexiokratousa, first quarter of 13th century (Byzantine), tesserae (gold and other materials), set in wax on wood, 44.5 x 33.5 x 2.5 cm (Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt)
speakers: Dr. Evan Freeman, Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC Chair in Hellenic Studies at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University and Dr. Steven Zucker

[@songOmatic]

Most people don't know that 2000 years of Western Art is based on Byzantine iconography.
This is an excellent reminder of that fact.
Thanks, Smarthistory, for another insightful analysis!

[@paillette2010]

Perfectly wonderful, thank you.

[@tallmikbcroft6937]

Beautiful . Thank you for sharing

[@Sasha0927]

Hot and fresh Smarthistory is a great way to start the day! ❤
I'm particularly drawn to the Italy and (rightmost) Eastern Roman Empire versions of the Hodegetria (1:09), but love that various regions have made their own style.
I also love mosaics long time, lol. The detailed view around 2:07 was a sight to behold, as was the Transfiguration mosaic (2:56).
I'm really trying to ignore that the tesserae for Christ's blessing hand were lost in this piece - of course they were...
I now know what a maphorion and beautiful chrysography are. Much to learn as always.

[@casanova07scrr]

So inspiring!!!

[@johnnzboy]

"A *wildly* labour-intensive process", ain't that the truth, but what timeless beauties those mosaicists created that can last thousands of years undulled - I've sought out the micromosaic collections of many of the Western world's big museums and I am still in rapt awe of the relentless talents of the patient artists who produced these miniature marvels, these sparkling jewels.

[@BrianJosephMorgan]

So beautiful! Ora pro nobis.

[@kevinj2261]

Wow！Impressive

[@axelsandi]

Also interesting the usage of white.

[@lizziesangi1602]

In these icons, the Roman Catholic Orthodoxy calls Our Lady, Our Mother Of Perpetual Help. Our Mother Of Perpetual Help, with Divine little Jesus in Her arms, Her Son, is VERY POWERFUL 🌹✝️🌹

[@johnnzboy]

Oh and thanks too for the image of the apse at St Catherine's Monastery, I've never seen it before, it's stunning (those blues! those faces! its radiance!)

[@Oblivitana]

❤

[@curiousworld7912]

Beautiful.

[@daveyost1567]

lovely!

[@SmittenKitten.]

How were the stones/glass adhered? It's incredible it stayed intact.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Wax.

[@SmittenKitten.]

@@smarthistory-art-history Thank you!