KLPS, 26 Painting

A leaf design modelled after a Byzantine leaf relief found inside the north church of Constantine Lips Monastery, built in the tenth century in Aksaray, Istanbul. Leaf pattern has been painted in black and the surface of the paper is painted with crayon to create a cloudy background. It’s been widely accepted that this church’s sculptural elements were recycled materials, most probably transferred from an ancient city called Cyzicus (also known as Kyzikos in Mysia, Balıkesir) in Anatolia to Constantinopolis. Therefore, the ancient sculptural parts of this church include ancient designs. But if the design structure of this leaf is regarded, it can be seen that the down area of this leaf clearly resembles to Gothic trefoil composition, while the upper side of it includes the design of a lotus. The sculptures in the north church of the Constantine Lips Monastery, according to André Grabar (1963), are an obvious example of the fusion of Eastern and Western art in the tenth century. This ancient leaf design belongs to a larger composition on the marble cornice of north church’s main apse. The main part of this cornice comprises a central composition, with an equal-armed cross enclosed in a wreath of foliage and, flanking the wreath, two symmetrical flower stems and two facing partridges [or peacocks]. Beyond this composition which is in the middle of the frieze, the field is divided into equilateral triangles by a slight zig-zag frame, each triangle being filled with an upright leaf or a palmette (Grabar, 1963). But this cross relief enclosed by a wreath of foliage, representing the place of Jesus is in heaven, is missing today, possibly recently stolen.

Painting:Acrylic on Paper

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:9.8 W x 13.7 H x 0.1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.