Catholic icons: differences from the Orthodox

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Sometimes it is believed that icons are only in Orthodoxy. This is not entirely true. Catholics also have icons. However, they have significant differences. Consider the features of iconography and photos of Catholic icons.

How to tell the difference

There are specific differences. So, in Catholic images, the left hand of the saint lies on top of the right, and in Orthodox images, the right hand is on top of the left. Signatures on icons in Catholicism are written in Latin. And according to the Orthodox canon - Greek. In the Russian tradition, it is also possible with Church Slavonic letters.

Differences between Orthodox and Catholic icons

So. The main difference between a Catholic icon and an Orthodox one is the great “liveness”, the emotionality of the image, which makes the picture more like a painting. Initially, in Catholicism there were more paintings with a biblical story than images of saints. Therefore, the means of expression - figures and facial expressions, the brightness of colors - are very different for Catholic and Orthodox icons. For example, a Catholic saint may have a crown instead of a halo. This is not possible in the Orthodox tradition. All this is connected with the purpose of the icon. In Catholicism, they are more often placed for beauty and creating a religious setting, and not forprayers.

Now in Catholicism there are a sufficient number of icons that are not a plot, but represent an image of a saint. But they also show a greater emotionality of facial expressions, prescribed details and chiaroscuro than on the Orthodox. There may be details impossible for Orthodox icons, such as the heart on the Catholic icon of the Mother of God "Immaculate Heart".

What is the meaning of icons in Catholicism and Orthodoxy

The distinctive features of Orthodox and Catholic icons are due to cultural tradition and some difference in the worldview of Catholics and Orthodox.

Initially, the school of Orthodox icon painting was formed under the influence of the Byzantine school. She, in turn, was greatly influenced by the Eastern tradition, the characteristic features of which were smooth lines, severity, majesty, solemnity, radiance. The purpose of the image here is to evoke a prayerful mood in a person, aspiration for God, and nothing more.

The Catholic icon arose in other circumstances. It arose as an illustration on a religious theme. Its task is to teach, instruct, tell a biblical story, and not to awaken a prayerful mood. The sensuality of icons was one of the reasons why the Protestants rejected them as images far from the divine.

Difference between canons

In Orthodoxy, there is a clearly defined canon of icon painting - the rules for creating an icon. It was created so that icon painters would not bring into iconstoo much personal. Deviations from it are impossible, except for colors, the gamut of which can vary in different icon painting schools. But nevertheless, color always carries a semantic load.

For example, according to the canon, the Mother of God is dressed in a purple robe (a symbol of majesty) and a blue chiton (a symbol of heaven, eternal peace). Her icon is designated by the Greek letters MR-MF. There is always a halo. It should be noted that in Orthodoxy there are images of the Virgin in the crown. This is an element borrowed from Catholics or Uniates. The crown in this case does not replace the halo, but is present on the icon at the same time.

Also has its own canons of the image of Jesus Christ and the saints. According to the canon, there should not be a portrait resemblance, and characteristic features make the image recognizable. Other components of the canon are the two-dimensionality of the image, reverse perspective (enlargement of objects as they move away), the absence of shadows. All this is intended to best convey the image of the Divine realm in which the saints are.

For a Catholic icon, there are no canons regulating its writing. It is a portrait or painting, the distinguishing feature of which is the presence of saints and a religious plot. Everything else is dictated by the imagination of the artist. The Catholic icon is painted by the author. Most often, the person who wrote it is exactly known. In Orthodox icon painting, on the contrary, anonymity is common, since several icon painters often work on an icon. Although they often say “the icon of Andrei Rublev” or “the icon of Theophan the Greek”,it would be correct to call them “the icon of the school of Andrei Rublev” or “the icon of the school of Theophan the Greek.”

General Icons

There are icons equally revered by Catholics and Orthodox. For example, some Orthodox icons of the Mother of God, such as Kazan, Ostrobramskaya and some others, are revered by Catholics. Or the icon of the Catholic tradition "Tenderness of Seraphim-Diveevskaya". Before her, Saint Seraphim of Sarov was in prayer. As well as the Catholic icon of Jesus Christ "Prayer of Gethsemane" ("Prayer for the Cup").

Comparison

To better feel the difference, consider the image of the Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary (we consider it only a painting) - the work of Botticelli "The Annunciation", as well as the Orthodox icon "Ustyug Annunciation", created in the XII century by the school of Andrei Rublev. The Annunciation is a holiday equally revered by Christians of both denominations.

"Annunciation" by Sandro Botticelli

Catholic icons are more sensual, they depict real people, not their images. In the religious painting by Botticelli, Mary looks like an earthly beautiful girl, in an emotional pose, speaking of her embarrassment in front of the Archangel Gabriel. All the details of the picture are clearly spelled out - shadows, elements of clothing, facial features. There is a perspective - all objects decrease as they move away; this does not exist in Orthodox icons. There is an underlined division of space into internal and external, which is not found in Orthodox icon painting: the Archangel and the Mother of God are in the room, a landscape is depicted outside the windowcities.

Nimbuses above the heads are brown (in Orthodoxy - a symbol of corruption and human nature) and are more like hats, they look like separate objects. On Orthodox icons, they are always made in bright colors and emanate from the depicted image, representing, as it were, a radiance emanating from within. The colors of the painting have no symbolism.

Icon "Ustyug Annunciation"

The icon "Ustyug Annunciation" is made in a completely different way. The action takes place in another, two-dimensional dimension - there is no depth. This and a light, golden background, symbolizing the Kingdom of Heaven, emphasize the difference between the Mother of God and the Archangel from ordinary people.

From some details, one can understand that the action of the icon still takes place in a specific place - the temple, but this space is still different, divine, not of this world.

The figures are vertical, without emotional gestures and impulses. The whole icon seems to be directed upwards. The hand of the Archangel is raised for blessing, the appearance of the Mother of God speaks of the humble acceptance of God's will. Unlike the Botticelli painting, there is no emphasis on the beauty of clothes or faces. Clean, humble, unemotional faces are a characteristic feature of Orthodox icons.

All colors matter: the purple clothes of the Virgin Mary emphasize her greatness, the green tones present in the clothes of the Archangel Gabriel mean life, the joyful news of the conception of a new life.

Thus, the spiritual prevails in the Orthodox icon;vertical, speaking of aspiration to Heaven. In the painting by Botticelli, on the contrary, the earthly beginning is emphasized, the horizontality of the image is expressed, as if tying the action to the earth.