In a message dated 11/30/99 9:05:41 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Might you explain about the empty throne, or if it is not too early
to call it that, the Hetoimasia?
Well, this is an interesting twist. When I first looked at the picture of
the Arian baptistry I thought the old man observing the proceedings was God
the Father. However, comparing it with the Orthodox baptistry, where the
figure is clearly labeled as Jordan, I changed my assumption. And as I
recall my art hist. prof. stressed that this latter position was correct.
Further recollections bring to mind that God the Father is rarely portrayed
in early Christian art.
In this circumstance I didn't even bother to look for the first person of the
trinity in the Arian baptistry. Then I noticed the throne and the line
connecting the throne with Jesus. Could this be a novel way of depicting the
Creator? An unseen ruling presence? With the dove in between, and in fact
looking to all the world like a messenger on the dome, I thought this could
be assuredly Arian: a symbolic indication of the divine substance being
delivered after being created and packaged just for Jesus.
But now that you mention Hetoimasia, the throne "Prepared" for Jesus, I have
second thoughts. It is not that I see this so much as a throne prepared, but
the line of development now looks more like Jesus stepping off his heavenly
throne to become human. Thus, a fairly clear statement of the "Nicene"
creed. In which, case, at least in my mind, the iconography is even more
muddled than before.
I'm not sure how correct it might be to impute
terms like "orthodox" or "heretical" to such images.
I was thinking more on the lines of what 5th/6th cent. folks would call
orthodox or heretical. Or, if you will, "Nicene" or "Arian."
My point was
rather that the Baptism in either case has been interpreted to bring
out different aspects of it, and it seems likely to me that doctrinal
interests have determined those differences. >>
That may be, and I concede that it might have been intentional, but I have my
doubts because I feel like my knowledge of who built the structure is
coloring how the picture must be perceived.
maybe more later, I have to run
mark
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