Byzantine

Lamentation over the dead Christ, wall painting, Saint Pantaleimon, Nerezi, Macedonia, 1164.

Created with great emotional power, the lamentation of Christ is one of passionate grief. The artist captured Christ followers in attitudes, expressions, and gestures that clearly display the human emotions. Joseph of Arimathea and the disciple Nicodedmus kneel at his feet, while Mary presses her cheek against her dead son's face and Saint John clings to Christs's left hand. In the four gospels neither Joseph or Mary were present in the entombment of Christ. There inclusion here, as wlesewhere in Middle Byzantine art, intsnsified for the view the emotional impact of Christ's death.

Now to back away from the history, i would like to write a little more on the stylistic approach to this piece. I feel a very close connection with the sorrows shown upon the faces of Christ's followers. As such, it is necessary to entertain the idea that this piece has a similar connection with many, if not all of its viewers. The piece is beautiful, with its use of color and design. The angles lamenting above, the positions of the bodies surrounding Christ, all are done with a purpose it would seem, to draw the viewers eye to the main subject matter; Christ. The role of Christianity within the Byzantine time took on a great role, and became easliy recognizable. More and more artwork was produced, all having something or other to do with the life that Christ led. It is important to understand that as theses works of art began to appear within the walls of the churches, the viewers were provided the opportunty to asthetically connect with the ideals that they worshiped. To look upon pieces such as the Lamentation of Christ, they are able to see and connect with the emotions of those who were mourning among Christ, those who hand loved and charished Christ with all of their hearts. It causes the mind to think, to be drawn to a more spiritual rhelm, where thoughts are encouraged to remember what was given to them, in order that they might acheive salvation.