The Influence of Renaissance Art on the Decoration of 16 - 18th Century Icons in Transylvania and Maramureş

With the theoretical premise of stylistic interferences as a starting point, the present study wishes to answer the following question: Why and how did Renaissance art influence the icons of Transylvania and the Land of Maramureş in the 16–18^th centuries? Analyzing the icons of this period I shall demonstrate that the reception of Renaissance art was manifest in the field of decorations, due to the nature and characteristics of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine painting. I shall also indicate the models and sources of inspiration coming from different directions. Studying thoroughly the reception phenomenon, I tried to explain how the Renaissance plastic repertoire was assimilated by the religious painting of these regions. The elements taken over were reformulated according to local necessities, and in time these elements became traditional, being preserved also in the 18^th century icons.

Full Text