Icon of Constantine the Great's Vision

Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens, Greece

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Material: Wood, Tempera paint (or oil/tempera blend, typical of 18th c. Ionian School)
Date range: 1746
Origin: From Zakynthos (Zante)

This is a large, semicircular (arched top) icon depicting the Vision of Constantine the Great. The scene is crowded with figures and details, rendered in a style that is characteristic of the Ionian School of painting in the mid-18th century, which often incorporated strong Western European influences. The icon was painted by Stylianos Stavrakis in 1746.

The central and largest figure is Emperor Constantine, mounted on a heavily caparisoned gray horse in a dynamic pose. Constantine is depicted as a king or emperor, wearing a crown, a flowing red cloak, and ornate gold armor/robes. He is looking upwards, apparently towards the source of his vision.

Above and slightly behind him, an angel is descending from the clouds, holding or pointing to the celestial sign of the cross or Christogram (Chi-Rho, though a sunburst cross is visible). This moment is the core of the "Vision," where Constantine is said to have seen the sign of the cross with the inscription, "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (By this sign, you will conquer).

Other prominent elements include:

• Attendant Figure: To the left of the horse, a dark-skinned attendant figure, perhaps a page or standard-bearer, holds the horse's reins and looks back towards the Emperor.

• Landscape: The lower portion depicts a busy harbor or cityscape, identifiable as a coastal town, with numerous ships and boats floating on the water. The buildings, possibly representing Constantinople or a battle site, are rendered in a stylized, almost miniature fashion.

• Sky: The sky is filled with dark, dramatic clouds, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the vision.

The icon's dramatic composition, detailed figures, and rich colors are hallmarks of the post-Byzantine period in the Ionian Islands.

Museum label reference: Icon with the Vision of Constantine the Great. Painted by Stylianos Stavrakis. From Zakynthos. 1746. BXM 1588

Original Text: Εικόνα με παράσταση του οράματος του αγίου Κωνσταντίνου. Ζωγράφος Στυλιανός Σταυράκης. Από τη Ζάκυνθο. 1746. BXM 1588

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Icon with the Vision of Constantine the Great, painted by Stylianos Stavrakis

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