An Iconographic Theme Disseminated North of the Carpathians: Saint Christopher in Romanian Mural Painting of Southern Transylvania (1760–1835)

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the context in which an iconographic topic, namely, the visual representations of Saint Christopher, was disseminated from the south to the north of the Carpathian Mountains, in the second half of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In order to identify the circulation routes of the theme, I will investigate the artistic and spiritual relationship between the Romanian communities from southern Transylvania and those from Wallachia. The present analysis will also include the confessional solidarity between the Orthodox groups from both sides of the Carpathians and its role in the creation and transmission of a homogenous religious iconographic program.

Keywords

• carpathian mountains
• saint christopher
• romanian iconography
• 18th–19th century
• confessional identity
• cultural transfer