Material Aspects of Icons. A Review on Physicochemical Studies of Greek Icons

摘要

Holy icons created in the Byzantine era are a vital entitynin Orthodox Christianity, a living tradition unbroken overnmore than 1500 years. The importance of these symbolicnrepresentations has inspired interdisciplinary studies to bet-nter understand the materials and process of their construc-ntion. Researchers from a variety of fields are workingntogether to place icons in their proper historical and cul-ntural framework, as well as to develop long-term conserva-ntion strategies. In this Account, we review very recentnanalytical results of the materials and painting methods usednin the production of Byzantine iconography.