4.- Museu Onufri (gran pintor d’icones albanès) de Berat, Albània.
MUZEU ONUFRI BERAT.
Berat Onufri Museum (great painter of Albanian icons), Albania
Durrës, Albania.
CATALÀ
Autor: Onufri
Sant Teodor Tironi i Stratilati (Segle XVI)
Tremp a la fusta.
ENGLISH
Autor: Onufri
Saints Teodor Tironi and Teodor Stratilati (16th Century)
Tempera on wood
Saints Teodor Tironi and Teodor Stratilati were soldier saints of the early Cristian period. Converted to Christianity, they immediately became martyrs. St. Teodor Tironi fell victim of the persecutions of Julian the Apostate during the 4th century, while St. Teodoro Stratilati was a general in the army of the Emperor Licinius. The two martyrs are particularly worshipped in Greece and Russia. A large number of churches are dedicated to them and the iconography always presents them as twins. In this artwork, Onofrio with an intelligent and precise composition represents them facing each other in a way that the believers can see three quarters of their profile. Their heads are turned upwards with their hands towards Jesus, who in dominant position is blessing them. Both saints have shields and short tunics, which distinguishes them as warriors, their weapons are laid on the ground and their staffs form the cross of Christ, from where underneath can be seen their cloaks. To better comprehend the depiction of the theme, the symmetrical composition that the painter has given to the scene must be taken into account. Their diagonal heads respect to the same icon, give an idea that the two saints are detached from the golden background, rendering grandeur and honour to the scene.
The beauty of the icon is given by the variety of colours used for the two saints’ clothes. The greatness of the scene presents the devotion of this characters towards the presence of a strong Ottoman domination in Albania. For this reason the icon has a symbolic role because the characters are personified at the same time as saints. The shields and staffs laid on the ground, testify a moment of prayer to God. The reflection of the details in the scene has been rendered in a way to be understood by the faithful. The icon represents an important example of the past, that has become a model for the present. At first glance, the icon appears to be symmetrical, this impression is given by the legs and the folds of the cloaks. The icon’s composition is divided in two parts, one with a vertical direction where every part is reserved to the strategist. Jesus is depicted in the centre of the top part of the icon, while the inclined bodies of the two saints form a pyramid, on which base there are still saints.
4.- Museu Onufri (gran pintor d’icones albanès) de Berat, Albània.
MUZEU ONUFRI BERAT.
Berat Onufri Museum (great painter of Albanian icons), Albania
Durrës, Albania.
CATALÀ
Autor: Onufri
Sant Teodor Tironi i Stratilati (Segle XVI)
Tremp a la fusta.
ENGLISH
Autor: Onufri
Saints Teodor Tironi and Teodor Stratilati (16th Century)
Tempera on wood
Saints Teodor Tironi and Teodor Stratilati were soldier saints of the early Cristian period. Converted to Christianity, they immediately became martyrs. St. Teodor Tironi fell victim of the persecutions of Julian the Apostate during the 4th century, while St. Teodoro Stratilati was a general in the army of the Emperor Licinius. The two martyrs are particularly worshipped in Greece and Russia. A large number of churches are dedicated to them and the iconography always presents them as twins. In this artwork, Onofrio with an intelligent and precise composition represents them facing each other in a way that the believers can see three quarters of their profile. Their heads are turned upwards with their hands towards Jesus, who in dominant position is blessing them. Both saints have shields and short tunics, which distinguishes them as warriors, their weapons are laid on the ground and their staffs form the cross of Christ, from where underneath can be seen their cloaks. To better comprehend the depiction of the theme, the symmetrical composition that the painter has given to the scene must be taken into account. Their diagonal heads respect to the same icon, give an idea that the two saints are detached from the golden background, rendering grandeur and honour to the scene.
The beauty of the icon is given by the variety of colours used for the two saints’ clothes. The greatness of the scene presents the devotion of this characters towards the presence of a strong Ottoman domination in Albania. For this reason the icon has a symbolic role because the characters are personified at the same time as saints. The shields and staffs laid on the ground, testify a moment of prayer to God. The reflection of the details in the scene has been rendered in a way to be understood by the faithful. The icon represents an important example of the past, that has become a model for the present. At first glance, the icon appears to be symmetrical, this impression is given by the legs and the folds of the cloaks. The icon’s composition is divided in two parts, one with a vertical direction where every part is reserved to the strategist. Jesus is depicted in the centre of the top part of the icon, while the inclined bodies of the two saints form a pyramid, on which base there are still saints.