Byzantine Icon Recreation: Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

This week, we are learning about one of the oldest surviving Christian icons, the Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels. Painted in the 6th century, this icon is still preserved at Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt.

It is an especially important piece of art because most icons from this early time were destroyed during the Byzantine Iconoclasm, when people debated whether religious images should be used in worship. This icon survived because it was kept safe in the desert monastery.

Painted with encaustic (pigments mixed with hot wax on wood), the image shows the Virgin Mary seated on a throne holding the Christ Child, flanked by saints, with angels behind them and the hand of God above.

This project ties directly into our history studies of the Byzantine Empire, helping us understand how art reflected both faith and culture. Icons like this were not meant to be “realistic” portraits, but windows into heavenly reality, reminding viewers of God’s glory and majesty.

*I included a link to a youtube video that talks all about the history and context of this piece of artwork!

PROJECT INSTRUCTTIONS:

1. Place the icon printout next to a blank sheet of printer paper. (If you lost the copy I gave in class, parents can reprint it using the pdf attachment on this assignment)
2. Do not trace the icon. Instead, recreate it by drawing on your blank sheet.
3. Begin by drawing lightly with a pencil. Use basic shapes (circles, rectangles, triangles) to map out where the throne, figures, and halos should go.
4. Once the placement feels correct, add details (faces, robes, angels, throne).
5. When your pencil drawing is finished, use colored pencils to color the icon. Pay attention to the primary colors — red, blue, and yellow — and how they stand out in the original painting.
6. The goal is to create your own replica of this Byzantine icon while appreciating its beauty and meaning.

DUE DATE & PRESENTATION:

• There is no art class on September 18th.
• Bring your completed icon recreation to class on Thursday, September 25th.
• On that day, you will present your drawing to the class and share what you noticed about the artwork while recreating it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message!

Happy Drawing!

-Mrs Micek