Νέο ανάγλυφο της αναλήψεως του Αλεξάνδρου
Part of : Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας ; Vol.32, 1989, pages 277-282
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Pages:
277-282
Parallel Title:
A New Relief Sculpture with the Ascension of Alexander
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Articles
Abstract:
The Corca Medieval Art Museum in Albania includesa window tympanum carved in porous limestone. Thetympanum has recently been published. The figurai representation on it is of special interest and deservesfurther examination and commentary. In fact, this is anew example of the well-known scene of the Ascensionof Alexander the Great to heaven.According to the recent publication, this piece of architectural sculpture comes from the church of St. Nicholasof Kurjan, which is connected with the powerful feudalfamily of Balscha or Balsic. The church is known toscholars (Al. Meksi, 1974); it seems that it has beendrastically restored, and that the tympanum under examination was not found in situ.The decorative motif framing the two lobes of the tympanum, which consists of palmettes and lotus, is wellknown in middle Byzantine art. The low-relief of Alexander is also Byzantine from the point of view of iconography, but there is a lack of technical skill in the styleand technique. The use of figurai representations onwindow tympana is not familiar in Byzantine architecture. We could nevertheless compare the tympanum ofKurjan with another at the church of the Virgin inneighbouring Apollonia (beginning of the 13th century),a monument obviously influenced by contemporaryItalian architectural models.The connection of the church of St. Nicholas with theSerbian feudal family of Balsic suggests that the architectural member under examination may also be relatedto Serbian art and architecture of the period. But itsrelatively early date and other elements exclude thispossibility.The tympanum seems to have been incorporated intothe church of Kurjan in second use, along with numerous other spolia which decorate its walls. The relief ofAlexander is a local imitation of a Byzantine model, andits use on the window tympanum is related to the current "Romanesque" ideas on the other side of the Adriatic Sea.
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