The aim of this contribution is to analyze, at both iconography and iconology level, the so-called representation of Etimasia in the West between 5th and 9th century. After having determined that, during the aforementioned period, the use of the label Etimasia, frequently used by previous studies, turns out to be misleading with reference to the considered representations, we proceeded with a ‘case to case’ study which not only takes into consideration the representation of the seat itself – and its attributes – but also considers the figurative context in which it’s included, with respect to both the building and its function. The cases in which the reference to John’s text is confirmed by the iconography, the rational reconstruction of interpretation provided by late antique and medieval exegesis of the passage in Apocalypse (IV, 2) has become very important. However, even when the reference to Apocalypse is supported through images, the full understanding of representations it is not guaranteed: the so-called Etimasia seems – eventually – set as autonomous exegetical-figurative proposal that has to be investigated preferencially considering the context, this is even more evident in representations in which there are no clues that lead back to the New Testament book. The path proposed seems to be confirmed by works made after 11th century, briefly mentioned, which are witness of an iconography that – not only it hasn’t exhausted yet – but also it renews itself by acquiring new shades of meaning.

L'immagine della cosiddetta "Etimasia" dal V al IX secolo / E. Di Natale, S. Resconi. - In: STUDI MEDIEVALI. - ISSN 0391-8467. - 54:2(2013), pp. 691-750.

L'immagine della cosiddetta "Etimasia" dal V al IX secolo

S. Resconi
2013

Abstract

The aim of this contribution is to analyze, at both iconography and iconology level, the so-called representation of Etimasia in the West between 5th and 9th century. After having determined that, during the aforementioned period, the use of the label Etimasia, frequently used by previous studies, turns out to be misleading with reference to the considered representations, we proceeded with a ‘case to case’ study which not only takes into consideration the representation of the seat itself – and its attributes – but also considers the figurative context in which it’s included, with respect to both the building and its function. The cases in which the reference to John’s text is confirmed by the iconography, the rational reconstruction of interpretation provided by late antique and medieval exegesis of the passage in Apocalypse (IV, 2) has become very important. However, even when the reference to Apocalypse is supported through images, the full understanding of representations it is not guaranteed: the so-called Etimasia seems – eventually – set as autonomous exegetical-figurative proposal that has to be investigated preferencially considering the context, this is even more evident in representations in which there are no clues that lead back to the New Testament book. The path proposed seems to be confirmed by works made after 11th century, briefly mentioned, which are witness of an iconography that – not only it hasn’t exhausted yet – but also it renews itself by acquiring new shades of meaning.
Settore L-ART/01 - Storia dell'Arte Medievale
Settore L-FIL-LET/08 - Letteratura Latina Medievale e Umanistica
2013
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/227983
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