Likeness Is in the Eye of the Beholder: Byzantine Portraiture in Art Historiography and Byzantine Perception

The present paper addresses the problem of likeness in Byzantine donor portrait and treats this issues, initially, context historiography portraiture and, further, contemporary sources, epigrams by Palaiologan poet Manuel Philes. It looks at two consecutive methodological trends historiography: first, traditional art historical, investigates portraits as objects, i.e. it their style, iconography, historical context; second, stemming from cultural studies, discusses engagement viewer with images process beholding performative its nature. To understand context, article turns to sources. Namely, follows description viewers’ experience texts that accompanied works art, inscriptional epigrams, finds an image was perceived paradoxical nature, being simultaneously extremely resemblant natural phenomena lacking ability speech. research proceeds investigate examples preserved situ (Portrait Niphon Christ Church Mborje Demetrios Phatmeris St. Panteleimon Ohrid). proposed beholders different types information which affected synergistically provoked his/her emotional response. final part deals epigrammatic epitaphs Philes (To a megas stratopedarches Saponopoulos) inquires into strategies developed facilitate communication between beholders. concludes recognition the’ personalities deceased achieved through read or pronounced theoretically, observed images. In framework, matter beholder’s sympathize assist prayers future salvation. This is project Art Historiographies Central Eastern Europe. An Inquiry Perspective Entangled Histories (ArtHistCEEStG–802700) has received funding European Research Council (ERC) under Union’s Starting Grant Horizon 2020 innovation program.