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All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Analyzing the Origins of a Decorated Icon of the Virgin

  • Event date: From January 18 2018, 20:15 To January 18 2018, 19:15 (Local time)
  • Place: Toronto, Carr Hall, Room 405, located at 100 St. Joseph Street, St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto.
  • For a fee: No

On May 6, 1473, the Franciscan preacher Giacomo della Marca presented a decorated icon of the Virgin embellished with golden highlights and a glittering frame and revetment to the cathedral of Fermo, located in the Marche near the Adriatic Sea.

Believed at the time to be the product of Byzantine craftspeople and based on established Byzantine icon types, the display of this icon in the cathedral suggests that it was perceived to bring prestige while reinforcing local devotional traditions and iconography.

This lecture will uncover the history of this icon and show how Byzantine traditions influenced Italian artisans.

  • Organized by: Istituto Italiano di Cultura
  • In collaboration with: Canadian Institute for Mediterranean Studies, University of Toronto