The expression of the imperial idea of a Romanian ruler in the katholikon of the Great Lavra monastery

Abstract

The subject of this paper is a recently cleaned fresco displaying a donor portrait in the katholikon of the Great Lavra monastery on Mount Athos known as the portrait of the Byzantine Emperor John Tzimiskes. The author taking into consideration several iconographic elements as well as the new data that came to light in the course of restoration, rejects the possibility of the representation of the Byzantine emperor and identifies the painted image with Wallachian Prince Vlad Vintilă (1532-1535). This is the most representative example of a Romanian ruler portrayed in fresco that excellently reflects the imperial idea.