Epigram, Art, and Devotion in Later Byzantium

This book explores the nexus of art, personal piety, and self-representation in the last centuries of Byzantium, focusing on verse inscriptions on works of art. It argues that epigrammatic poetry is a critical source for reconstructing aesthetic and socio-cultural discourses and offers a penetrating and original account of Byzantine art and its place in Byzantine society and religious life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 530 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate interplay between art, personal piety, and self-representation during the remarkable centuries of Byzantium, spanning from approximately 1100 to 1450. Focusing on the rich evidence found in verse inscriptions, or epigrams, etched onto works of art, Professor Drpić argues that epigrammatic poetry holds a critical yet often overlooked role in reconstructing the aesthetic and socio-cultural discourses that shaped the creation, appreciation, and perception of art in the Byzantine world. Through a fusion of art-historical and literary analysis, the book explores a wide array of epigrams and related texts, alongside an impressive collection of objects, including icons, reliquaries, ecclesiastical textiles, mosaics, and entire church buildings. By delving into diverse topics such as devotional self-fashioning, the aesthetics of adornment, sacred gifting, and the eroticism of the icon, this study provides a profound and innovative exploration of Byzantine art and its profound impact on Byzantine society and religious life.

Weight: 900g
Dimension: 170 x 245 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316606094