Universal and peculiar in old hagiographical images of St. Nicholas. The hagiographic icon from Urisiu de Jos - A case study

Abstract

The article treats some issues related to the beginning of hagiographical icons and mural paintings as a short pass in review, especially the representations of Saint Nicholas as a very popular character, their common or different features, and their development, depending on their inspiration source. Thus for having a background in what concerns an informed reference and a comparison basis for a case study, the icon of Saint Nicholas from Urisiu de Jos, Mureș County. There are taken into consideration the stylistic particularities, the compositional and symbolic features in a closed relation with the inspiration sources and the message that these representations convey, resulting in a new perspective upon the provenience, the way they were made and spiritual effects. The knowledge is accompanied by examples, and some images to relate to. For the case study, there is made a characterization of the biographic scenes of the saint, with a closed reference to the general or peculiar features that were studied before. In this way, the frame of its research begun broader, and as a consequence, a more defined portrayal upon the sources of the influences and artistic moves that marked the epoch in which the icon was designed.

Keywords

• Icon
• Mural Painting
• St. Nicholas