Jesus and Mary are among the most represented subjects in the history
of western art. From symbolic Early Christian images to modern interpretations,
iconic as well as narrative representations of them have served as objects
of devotion and aesthetic appreciation. Through the centuries, the image
of Jesus changed in ways that reflected religious and socio-political
developments, stylistic evolutions, aesthetic and ethnic preferences.
Despite this, it has always maintained a certain recognizable quality
allowing us to recognize Jesus regardless of context. Whether he is illustrated
in a biblical narrative or depicted alone in iconic form, we "know"
who Jesus is. Over time artists have created images of Jesus that are
instantly identifiable to an audience familiar with the western iconographic
tradition, even though the Bible offers no information on how Jesus looked.
With such a dearth of textual information regarding Jesus' appearance
how are we able to recognize his image? How has a specific facial type
become so closely associated with Jesus? How has this type changed over
time while retaining its identity? Is Jesus' image a mental construct
built on centuries-long tradition whose continuity has fed the imagination
of artists and patrons alike? Does a similar typology exist for representations
of the Virgin Mary?
These questions are at the core of Icons of Portraits? Images of Jesus
and Mary from the Collection of Michael Hall. The 114 objects on display,
dating from the twelfth through the twentieth centuries, are from the
private collection of Michael Hall. Many have never been exhibited or
published before. The five thematic sections define the parameters of
our investigation: Madonna and Child; Marian and Christological Narratives;
Passion Narratives; The Body of Christ; and Icons or Portraits? Within
each section notable iconographic types are further discussed and the
textual sources, both biblical and non-canonical, are given for specific
images where appropriate. As a group, the works in the exhibition tell
the story of representing the sacred, and creating a repertory of images
whose strength and endurance through the centuries is derived from their
miraculous origins or reliance on prototypes of authority. On a different
level, they also tell the story of decades of passionate collecting and
intimate knowledge of art.
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