The Art of the Kariye Camii (Chora Museum)

131 Pages·2002·103.297 MB·English

by  Robert Ousterhout

The Art of the
Kariye Camii
Robert Ousterhout
Scala Publishers Ltd
in association with
Archaeology and Art Publications
Copyright text: © Robert Ousterhout, 2002 PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS
The photographs on the pages listed below, are credited to the
First published in 2002 by following sources:
Scala Publishers Ltd
Gloucester Mansions © Robert Ousterhout:
140a Shaftesbury Avenue pages 48, 90, 91 (below right), 92-93 and 106
London WC2H 8HD
© Archaeology and Art Publications:
In association with pages 10-rr, 13, 18, 20, 22, 30-31, 32-34, 36-37, 38, 40-41,
Archaeology and Art Publications 42-47, 50-57,59, 60-69,71-72,74-75,76-7,79,80,84-7,p.
Hayriye Cad. <;:orlu Apt. 3/4 95-96), 97 (left), 98, 101-102, 105, 109, rr2, rr5-17 and 123
80060 Galatasaray (left) (phot. Gultekin Tetik)
Istanbul
pages 2-3, 6, 24-25, 26-9, 39, 82-3, rr3, rr8 and 123 (right)
(phot. Nezih Ba~gelen)
!
pages 16 and 91 (top) (Paspates)
Prepared with the assistance and support
page 91 (below right) (Lenoir)
of the Turkish Ministry of Culture
© E.J.W. Hawkins, courtesy of the Courtauld Institute, London:
ISBN l 85759 249 2 pages 14 and 97 (above and below right)
ISBN 975-6899-76-x
© Dumbarton Oaks:
Series Editors: Brian Johnson and Nezih Ba~gelen pages 15, 73 and 81
Pubication research: Archaeology and Art Publications
Courtesy of <;:elik Gulersoy:
Edited by Helena Drysdale page 89
Designed by Anikst Design
Printed and bound in Turkey by Ofset Yap1mevi NOTE: Location numbers given in the plan on page 9 appear in
bold throughout the text.
All rights reserved.
No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise,
without the written permission of Scala Publishers Ltd.
TiTLE PAGE ILLUSTRATION: Detail from the Deesis mosaic
(see page 28)
FRONTISPIECE: Detail from the Koimesis (see page 22)
CONTENTS
Preface 7
Plan 9
Introduction: The History of the Kariye Camii 11
I. A First Look: The Program of the Decoration 19
The Naos 21
The Narthexes: Dedicatory Images and Domes 23
The Inner Narthex: Cycle of the Life of the Virgin 35
The Outer Narthex: Cycle of the Infancy of Christ
The Outer Narthex: Cycle of Christ's Ministry
The Parekklesion: Prefigurations of the Virgin
and Themes of Resurrection and Judgment 70
The Parekklesion and Narthexes: Tomb Decoration · 86
II. A Second Look: The Architecture 89
Ill. A Third Look: Special Themes in the Mosaics and Frescoes 103
IV. A Final Look: Searching for Theodore Metochites 119
Selected Bibliography 126
Glossary 128

PREFACE
This is an introduction to one of Istanbul's major sites, once the famed
Chora Monastery from the Byzantine period, subsequently converted to the
Kariye Camii, and presently the Kariye Museum.''' The first chapters of the
book outline the building's history and its spectacular mosaic and fresco
decoration. Later chapters go into greater detail and suggest several differ
ent ways oflooking at both building and decoration.
The complex and occasionally confusing plan of the building is organized
as follows:
The naos was the main worship space, in the center of the building and
covered by a dome on pendentives (spherical triangles that make the transi
tion from arches to dome). The eastern extension of the naos is the bema or
sanctuary, where the altar was located, directly in front of the apse. It was
originally separated from the main part of the naos by a marble screen. The
naos preserves some mosaic decoration, marble revetments, and sculpture.
To each side of the bema were side chapels called pastophoria, with the
prothesis to the north, where the Eucharist was prepared, and the diakonikon
to the south, which was a vestry. By the fourteenth century, the diakonikon
functioned as a private chapel. Both preserve fresco fragments.
The two-storied north annex adjoined the naos. Its lower level passageway
may have been a vestry, with traces of simple frescoes preserved. Its upper
level was possibly the founder's study, housing the monastic library, with a
window overlooking the naos.
To the west were two broad narthexes, or entry vestibules, decorated with
mosaics. The inner narthex is also called the esonarthex. The outer narthex,
or exonarthex, was opened by an arcaded portico fa<;:ade and originally had a
belfry at the southwest corner. The narthexes preserve mosaics, marble revet
ments, and sculpture.
Along the south side was the parekklesion, or subsidiary chapel, which
functioned as a funeral chapel. Its frescoes are almost entirely preserved.
Between the parekklesion and the naos is a small, frescoed passageway
connecting to two small rooms, an unfinished storeroom and an oratory,
possibly a monk's cell. The latter is undecorated but has a window overlook
ing the naos.
A lavishly decorated Byzantine church like the Chora could be "read" on
many levels. For the simple monk living in the monastery during Byzantine
times, or for today's uninitiated tourist, its decoration presents illustrations
from the holy books-subjects occasionally familiar, occasionally obscure.
On another level, the decoration resonates with the Byzantine liturgy, and the
art of the Chora reflects the rituals that marked the daily life of a Byzantine
monastic church. On yet another level, the art of the Chora reflects the patron
age of one of Byzantium's greatest intellectuals; it is as sophisticated and
erudite as a contemporary work of Byzantine literature, structured like a
vast epic poem.
,•, Cami is the Turkish word for mosque. C is pronounced J in Turkish, so the building's
name is pronounced KAH-ree-yay JAH-mee. Sometimes the word cami is spelled djami,
following the French, but it is pronounced the same.
I
Preface 7
•
Jesus Christ 22 Presentation of the Virgin 46 John the Baptist Bearing 71 Bearing of the Sacred
2 Virgin Mary in the Temple Witness Vessels
3 Koimesis (Dormition of 23 Virgin Fed by an Angel 47 Temptation of Christ 72 Solomon and All Israel
the Virgin) 24 Instruction of the Virgin 48 Miracle at Cana 73 Installation of the Ark
4 Christ Pantokrator 25 Skein of Purple Wool 49 Multiplication of Loaves 74 Angel Smiting Assyrians
5 Virgin Blachernitissa 26 Zaccharias Praying 50 Christ Healing a Leper 75 Three Priests before Altar
6 Enthroned Christ and 27 Virgin Entrusted to 51 Paralytic at Bethesda 76 Souls of the Blessed in
Donor Joseph 52 Paralytic at Capernaum the Hand of God
7 Deesis 28 Joseph Taking the Virgin 53 Christ and Samaritan 77 Christ in Judgment
8 Christ Surrounded by to his House Woman 78 Choirs of the Elect
Ancestors 29 Annunciation to the 54 Christ Calling Zacchaeus 79 Scroll of Heaven
9 Virgin Surrounded by Virgin 55 Christ Healing Blind and 80 Hetoimasia and Weighing
Ancestors 30 Joseph Taking Leave; Dumb Man of Souls
10 Icons of saints (on walls Joseph Reproaching 56 Two Blind Men 81 Fiery Stream and Lake of
of exonarthex) 31 Joseph Dreaming; 57 St. Peter's Mother-in-Law Fire
11 Sts Peter and Paul Journey to Bethlehem 58 Woman with Issue of 82 Land and Sea Giving up
12 Additional saints (on 32 Enrollment for Taxation Blood Their Dead
arches of exonarthex) 33 Nativity of Christ 59 Man with Withered Hand 83 Angel and a Soul
13 Unidentified scene 34 Journey of the Magi; Magi 60 Christ Healing a Leper 84 Lazarus in Abraham's
14 Joachim's Offering before Herod 61 Scene of Healing Bosom
Rejected 35 Herod Inquiring 62 Christ Healing a Multitude 85 Rich Man in Hell
15 Joachim in the 36 Return of Magi 63 Virgin and Child with 86 Torments of the Damned
Wilderness 37 Flight into Egypt Angels 87 Entry of Elect into
16 Annunciation to St. Anne 38 Massacre of the Innocents 64 John of Damascus Paradise
17 Meeting at the Golden 39 Soldiers Slaying Children 65 Kosmas the Poet 88 Raising of Widow's Son
Gate 40 Mothers Mourning 66 Joseph the Poet 89 Raising of Daughter of
18 Birth of the Virgin 41 Flight of Elizabeth 67 Theophanes Graptos Jairus
19 First Seven Steps of the 42 Joseph Dreaming; Return 68 Jacob Wrestling Angel; 90 Anastasis
Virgin of Holy Family Jacob's Ladder 91 Virgin Eleousa
20 Virgin Blessed by the 43 Christ Taken to Jerusalem 69 Moses and the Burning 92 Church Fathers
Priests 44 Christ Among the Doctors Bush 93 Additional saints (on
21 Virgin Carressed by her 45 John the Baptist Bearing 70 Bearing of the Ark of the walls of parekklesion)
Parents Witness Covenant 94 Medallion portraits
8 I The Art of the Kari ye Camii
94 89
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