Christ Pantocrator (Palladas)
Painting by Ieremias Palladas / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christ Pantocrator is a tempera painting created by Ieremias Palladas. Ieremias was associated with Saint Catherine's sacred monastery in Egypt also known as Mount Sinai. He was a Sinaitic monk, painter, and teacher. His nephew Gerasimos Palladas became the Patriarch of Alexandria. There was a dependency of Saint Catherine's Monastery which was in Mount Sinai, Egypt on the island of Crete which was called Saint Catherine's Monastery of Heraklion. The site in Egypt was believed by Christians to be the site where Moses saw the burning bush.[1][2] The Patriarch of Jerusalem Nectarius wrote about the painter in his archives because Ieremias was one of the most influential figures of his time.[3][4]
Christ Pantocrator | |
---|---|
Greek: Χριστὸς Παντοκράτωρ, Italian: Cristo Pantocratore | |
Artist | Ieremias Palladas |
Year | 1608 - 1645 |
Medium | tempera on wood |
Movement | Late Cretan School |
Subject | Christ Pantocrator |
Dimensions | 107 cm × 79 cm (42.1 in × 31.1 in) |
Location | Panagia tou Kastrou (Παναγία του Κάστρου), Rhodes, Greece |
Owner | Panagia tou Kastrou (Παναγία του Κάστρου) |
Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity, the world's largest religion. He was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader.[5] Since the inception of the religion, he has been depicted in countless paintings. Christ Pantocrator is a specific depiction of the almighty. The word is derived from the Greek words παντός (pantos) meaning all and κράτος (kratos), meaning power and dominion. The word Pantocrator defines Christ as the ruler and judge of heaven and earth.[6] The earliest known depiction of Christ as Christ Pantocrator (Sinai) was painted during the 6th century. The work of art is part of the collection of Saint Catherine's Monastery. Church domes became a common site of Pantocrator images in the Greek and Italian world. The specific version painted by Ieremias was a common theme used by painters during the Proto-Renaissance. Luca di Tommè and Andreas Pavias both created similar versions. Palladas' work is more in line with the style adapted by Pavias. Later artists such as El Greco and Titian replaced the bible with a globe the painting theme became known as Salvator Mundi. The current painting was removed from the Church of Saint Nicholas, Ialysos (Trianta), Rhodes, Greece, and is now on display at Panagia tou Kastrou.[7][8][9]