Thursday, March 27, 2008

Anastasis



The Harrowing of Hell, 1310-1320. Fresco in the Mosque of the Kariye, Istanbul, Turkey.


'The Byzantine representation of the resurrection or the Harrowing of Hell.' (Gardner) These paintings have such beauty and drama, and in an age when most people didn't read, they really taught religion to the masses. I wonder if El Greco ever drew inspiration from this fresco?
***sorry for the poor quality photograph... you can click on it to get a closer look***