The murals in the church of the virgin Eleousa in Vljusa and Byzantine painting of the second half of the eleventh century

Abstract

The author gives an analysis of the style of the murals in the Church of the Virgin Eleousa in Veljusa (1080-1093), pointing out the distinctive manner of the outstanding artist, similar in many ways to works produced by the previous generation, such as the frescoes in Saint Sophia in Ohrid. At the same time parallels are drawn between the Veljusa frescoes and works by Constantinopolitan artists of the last third of the eleventh century, including miniatures in manuscripts and the Daphni mosaics. A few additions to the interpretation of the church’s iconographic programme are also proposed.

Keywords

• veljusa
• church of the virgin eleousa
• byzantine painting
• byzantine iconography