Painting the Standing Figure – An Icon of the Archangel Gabriel

About this course

Participants study and recreate the Archangel Gabriel from a 12th-century Annunciation icon at St Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai. The work provides a framework for examining human anatomy, proportion and the treatment of garment folds in Byzantine iconography. Teaching also considers the image’s theological and liturgical context, including the role of the Annunciation within the iconostasis. The painting process follows traditional icon-painting methods, including building form gradually from dark to light.

What you'll learn

• Analyse the anatomy and proportions of a standing figure in Byzantine iconography
• Reproduce characteristic garment folds using a layered painting method
• Apply traditional icon-painting techniques to a study of the Archangel Gabriel
• Relate the Annunciation image to the theological and liturgical function of the iconostasis

Is this course right for you?

The course is listed as suitable for all levels. It is intended for learners who want to study both the technical construction of a Byzantine icon and the spiritual and symbolic context of the image.

• Focuses exclusively on the figure of the Archangel Gabriel

Before you go

• Materials and techniques covered include loose-leaf gold, egg tempera, natural pigments, semi-precious pigments and layered work from dark to light.