Byzantine relief adornment techniques on Cypriot icons and wall paintings between the 11th and 14th centuries

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of painter-produced relief adornment techniques used for the embellishment of Byzantine icons and wall paintings in Cyprus between the 11th - 14th centuries. The technical study of surviving examples revealed that the techniques aiming at the imitation of three-dimensional metalwork were pastiglia, stamped, incised and punched decoration, which were employed on a large number of Cypriot icons, whilst 'tin-relief seems to have its sole use in the relief halo decorations of the mural paintings in the church of Virgin Phorviotissa, Asinou. In order to determine the materials and techniques of the painter-produced relief decorations, published and unpublished art-historical and technical data were consulted and cited, combined with primary sources and technical treatises. Furthermore, the analysis carried out by the author, as well as the practical replication of thet 'tin-relief adornment found at Asinou aided in the critical evaluation of the scientifically gained knowledge. he practical replication of the 'tin-relief adornment found at Asinou aided in To identify fundamental particularities of the traditional Byzantine techniques for relief adornment, the study investigated technical and stylistic similarities to Western medieval examples. Western medieval influences could be traced in the technical developments of the Cypriot icons, although stylistically it seems to have been an independent development. The technique of 'tin-relief appears to originate from and be rooted in the Western medieval tradition.