The painting of icons during the Lusignan period

Conference held by Sophocles Sophocleous, professor of archeology, art history and cultural heritage, entitled "The painting of icons in Cyprus during the Lusignan period (1192 - 1489)". Wednesday 7 May at 7:30 pm - Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation.

The art of the icons in Cyprus continues its centuries long tradition under the reign of the Lusignan kings (1192-1489). Judging from the preserved 12th century icons, they reflect the art of Constantinople, when Cyprus made part of the Byzantine Empire, the net continuity of the late Comnenian style and aesthetics just after 1192 and during the 13th century, is very evident. Towards the end of this century borrowings from the Western art can be detected, as well as the introduction of the new Constantinopolitan style of the Palaeologan dynasty. The 13th century conditions favour the development of a distinguished Cypriot style, named by the specialist scholars as "maniera cypria". During the 14th and 15th centuries the stylistic syncretisms find a fertile ground for development. Until the end of the reign of the Lusignans, even later, under the Venetian rule, the coexistence of the Latin rulers and the Greek Orthodox people enriches the artistic production. Borrowings from the Italian Primitives appear in the Cypriot space already in the 14th century, before the definite impact of the Italian Humanism. The so-called Italo-Byzantine style that results, is in fact the manifestation of the Renaissance in Cyprus in parallel with the Palaeologan art that continues after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.