The Ikon Studio
Murals
The New Testament doesn't describe the actual moment of Christ's resurrection. Neither does the icon painter. The tradition requires iconographers conscientiously to present in visual form what Sacred Scripture presents in written form. Grounding the artist's imagination in the received text provides a certain stability and sobriety that artist and community both benefit from.
Scouring the New Testament for references to the resurrection, some intrepid iconographer more than 1,500 years ago came across 1 Peter 3, 18-19: "In the body he was put to death; in the spirit he was brought to life. And in the spirit he went and made his proclamation to the imprisoned spirits." This text became the inspiration for what has become the definitive representation of Christ's resurrection: Christ proclaiming the "Good News" of his triumph over sin and Death, and extending that triumph to all humanity, even those asleep in the realm of Death.
The 10' x 10' mural shown here was painted for St. Mark Orthodox Church, Potomac, Md. Christ descends into the realm of death ("Sheol" in Hebrew, "Hades" in Greek), indicated by the arching rock formations in the background, and black pit beneath his feet. He is surrounded by the "imprisoned spirits," including David, Solomon and the other righteous ones of Israel;
he raises Adam and Eve, shatters the gates of the underworld beneath his feet, and fills the darkness of death with the light of his glory, indicated by his halo, the radiant orb surrounding his figure and his white garment.
The icon is painted on a large canvas, which has been adhered to the altar wall. The purpose of the canvas is to insulate the painted surface from the wall. If the wall suffers damage, say from water leakage, the painting can survive, because its "ground" is the canvas not the wall.
Most "mural" icons in this country are painted on canvas, then attached to the wall. Canvas murals are generally preferred to frescoes in this country, because walls for frescoes have to be specially constructed to ensure their integrity. Construction of plaster walls for frescoes can add to building costs. On the other hand, the fresco does have a qualities some may feel justify the extra effort.