This encaustic on wood is found in the monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt, and it was created in the second half of the sixth century, called the Virgin and Child with Saints and angels. The image depicts Mary, the mother of Christ, holding her child in her lap, implying that she has become her son’s imperial throne. This is called the “seat of wisdom.” The warrior saints Theodore and George stand on either side of them and represent the victory of the church over the evil spirits of paganism. Above the four figured are two angels with their gazes directed heavenward from where light falls upon the virgin and child. The warrior saints stare directly ahead without much expression depicting stoicism and permanence. Most of the figures are pretty natural and life-like, however the warriors are slightly more stylized to emphasize, again, their other worldliness.
This image depicts the crucifixion and two iconoclasts. Iconoclasm was the destruction and prohibition of images and other pieces of artwork depicting Christ as a deity. The general fear was that these images promoted idolatry, and worshippers began to pray to the artwork rather than through it. In fact, people went as far as eating paint chips that had fallen off of these paintings because they believed they had miraculous powers. In the image you see a soldier “tormenting” Christ on the cross to his right and below, two iconoclasts destroying an image of him.
The first image would have been a candidate for destruction by iconoclasm because it was in danger of becoming an idol; not only did it have Christ in it, but it also had Mary in it. Mary’s cult following and worship would begin not long after this time period. As for the artwork, the styles are not exactly the same but they are not far off. The bodies are not completely natural, but they are not stylized to a great extent.
Although the first image is more widely known and appreciate, there was a time when the second had the potential to determine the fate of the first. It is almost divine how the image survived the events of that period.
