Book reviews of The San Damiano Cross, An Icon of the Crucifixion by Madeleine Stewart, Conard Press, 2019
Sr Helen Julian
The San Damiano Cross, An Icon of the Crucifixion by Madeleine Stewart
Comment
This beautiful new study of the famous Franciscan icon draws on Madeleine’s deep knowledge of iconography, along with her heart of faith, to provide rich new insights. It is a gift to the Franciscan family, and to everyone who wants to deepen their faith in the crucified and risen Lord. Helen Julian CSF
Review
When Madeleine Stewart was asked to speak to a group of pilgrims to Assisi about the San Damiano crucifix (or icon) she had no idea where her study would lead. But drawing on her knowledge and skill as an iconographer, along with her own faith, she took a fresh look at this very familiar image, and realised that previous explanations had suffered from a lack of knowledge of Byzantine iconography.
Icons are ‘written’ not ‘painted’ and she introduces us to some of the language – the colours; appearance of hands, faces, clothes; and sacred geometry – so that we can better ‘read’ this icon of the crucified Christ. Her identification of all the figures, and interpretation of the details of the figure of Christ, are not just technical information, but spurs to prayer.
She takes nothing for granted, and in a wonderful piece of detective work, establishes that the original icon was longer than what we now see, and makes convincing suggestions for the six saints who were at the foot of the cross. Fascinatingly, a recent scientific study, involving laboratory examination of the cross, came to the same conclusion about the original size.
But she never forgets that icons are made for prayer, and advises ‘Let the icon speak to your heart and respond, as Francis did, with prayer of the heart.’ With the eyes and mind of an iconographer, and a heart of faith, Madeleine has produced in this book a wonderful gift, which will both facilitate a better understanding of the icon, and open the way to a greater love of it, and through it, to a greater love of Christ. Helen Julian CSF
Helen Julian CSF is a member of the Anglican Franciscans (Community of St Francis), and presently serving as Minister General. She has written several books for Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) and contributed to New Daylight.
__________________
John Watts OSF
The San Damiano Cross, an Icon of the Crucifixion
Madeleine Stewart, Conard Press 2019 64pp
Now and again one comes across a book that opens a door on a hitherto little understood subject, and so expands the reader’s horizons. The San Damiano Cross is one such; it is an eye opener of a book.
Many of us are aware of the San Damiano Cross and its place in the life of St Francis. But those who have looked closely at it and written about it have usually done so from the perspective of Western Christianity. In fact, though, it is an icon of the Eastern Church, with its own very distinct traditions, and can only properly be understood as such.
As an experienced practising painter of icons Madeleine Stewart is well placed to look at the Cross from the perspective of iconography, and this is the approach of her book. She first offers an introduction to the principles of iconography, explaining the rules and ‘language’ by which icons are ‘written’ and are to be ‘read’. Thus, unlike most Christian religious art in the West which aims at physical realism, icons seek to express theological truth. They make no use of perspective, or light and shade, for example. On the other hand, their every detail – colour, geometry, etc. – carries meaning. Each icon is sacred, set within a frame that separates it as it were from the outside world of time and space.
The author then applies these principles to a reading of the San Damiano Cross itself. She shows in impressive detail how this icon presents a coherent image, both in each individual detail and in its overall symmetry – a harmony appropriate to its divine subject. Every part of it refers to the Crucifixion, but it is a Crucifixion that depicts, not the suffering Christ of the historic moment (as is usually the case in the West), but His everlasting victory.
Drawing on her own wide background experience, Madeleine Stewart presents an authoritative analysis of the icon, full of insights. Thus, for example, she is able to locate very precisely, on grounds of artistic style, its likely provenance as to time and place; and also to deduce a ‘reconstruction’ of its damaged and truncated base, and even tentatively to identify the now barely visible saintly figures pained there.
Her short book, which never forgets the spiritual purpose of icons, ends with suggestions for praying with the Cross; it also includes a useful bibliography for further reading.
Madeleine Stewart has produced a labour both of love and scholarship, a book that excited and delighted this reader, and which merits to be widely read, by those interested in Francis certainly, but more generally by anyone wishing to better appreciate a very beautiful work of art and the unique cultural tradition within which it was created.
John Watts OFS
__________________
Verena Tshudin TSSF (‘Franciscan’ Magazine, April 2020)
‘This slim volume is a fount of information and unexpected discoveries. To Franciscans, the San Damiano cross is one of the most well-known images, but learning about the various details of it is like entering a new and fascinating world.’
‘I found this booklet impossible to put down and wanted it to go on much longer.’
__________________
Andre Cirino OFM
I have waited for this book since I first began bringing pilgrims to Assisi 35 years ago. While everyone who writes about the San Damiano Crucifix acknowledges it to be an icon, this is the first explanation that concentrates on its profound iconic meaning, a welcome addition to all the literature that surrounds this symbol of Franciscan identity and solidarity.
André Cirino, OFM—Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs
The San Damiano Cross, An Icon of the Crucifixion by Madeleine Stewart
Comment
This beautiful new study of the famous Franciscan icon draws on Madeleine’s deep knowledge of iconography, along with her heart of faith, to provide rich new insights. It is a gift to the Franciscan family, and to everyone who wants to deepen their faith in the crucified and risen Lord. Helen Julian CSF
Review
When Madeleine Stewart was asked to speak to a group of pilgrims to Assisi about the San Damiano crucifix (or icon) she had no idea where her study would lead. But drawing on her knowledge and skill as an iconographer, along with her own faith, she took a fresh look at this very familiar image, and realised that previous explanations had suffered from a lack of knowledge of Byzantine iconography.
Icons are ‘written’ not ‘painted’ and she introduces us to some of the language – the colours; appearance of hands, faces, clothes; and sacred geometry – so that we can better ‘read’ this icon of the crucified Christ. Her identification of all the figures, and interpretation of the details of the figure of Christ, are not just technical information, but spurs to prayer.
She takes nothing for granted, and in a wonderful piece of detective work, establishes that the original icon was longer than what we now see, and makes convincing suggestions for the six saints who were at the foot of the cross. Fascinatingly, a recent scientific study, involving laboratory examination of the cross, came to the same conclusion about the original size.
But she never forgets that icons are made for prayer, and advises ‘Let the icon speak to your heart and respond, as Francis did, with prayer of the heart.’ With the eyes and mind of an iconographer, and a heart of faith, Madeleine has produced in this book a wonderful gift, which will both facilitate a better understanding of the icon, and open the way to a greater love of it, and through it, to a greater love of Christ. Helen Julian CSF
Helen Julian CSF is a member of the Anglican Franciscans (Community of St Francis), and presently serving as Minister General. She has written several books for Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) and contributed to New Daylight.
__________________
John Watts OSF
The San Damiano Cross, an Icon of the Crucifixion
Madeleine Stewart, Conard Press 2019 64pp
Now and again one comes across a book that opens a door on a hitherto little understood subject, and so expands the reader’s horizons. The San Damiano Cross is one such; it is an eye opener of a book.
Many of us are aware of the San Damiano Cross and its place in the life of St Francis. But those who have looked closely at it and written about it have usually done so from the perspective of Western Christianity. In fact, though, it is an icon of the Eastern Church, with its own very distinct traditions, and can only properly be understood as such.
As an experienced practising painter of icons Madeleine Stewart is well placed to look at the Cross from the perspective of iconography, and this is the approach of her book. She first offers an introduction to the principles of iconography, explaining the rules and ‘language’ by which icons are ‘written’ and are to be ‘read’. Thus, unlike most Christian religious art in the West which aims at physical realism, icons seek to express theological truth. They make no use of perspective, or light and shade, for example. On the other hand, their every detail – colour, geometry, etc. – carries meaning. Each icon is sacred, set within a frame that separates it as it were from the outside world of time and space.
The author then applies these principles to a reading of the San Damiano Cross itself. She shows in impressive detail how this icon presents a coherent image, both in each individual detail and in its overall symmetry – a harmony appropriate to its divine subject. Every part of it refers to the Crucifixion, but it is a Crucifixion that depicts, not the suffering Christ of the historic moment (as is usually the case in the West), but His everlasting victory.
Drawing on her own wide background experience, Madeleine Stewart presents an authoritative analysis of the icon, full of insights. Thus, for example, she is able to locate very precisely, on grounds of artistic style, its likely provenance as to time and place; and also to deduce a ‘reconstruction’ of its damaged and truncated base, and even tentatively to identify the now barely visible saintly figures pained there.
Her short book, which never forgets the spiritual purpose of icons, ends with suggestions for praying with the Cross; it also includes a useful bibliography for further reading.
Madeleine Stewart has produced a labour both of love and scholarship, a book that excited and delighted this reader, and which merits to be widely read, by those interested in Francis certainly, but more generally by anyone wishing to better appreciate a very beautiful work of art and the unique cultural tradition within which it was created.
John Watts OFS
__________________
Verena Tshudin TSSF (‘Franciscan’ Magazine, April 2020)
‘This slim volume is a fount of information and unexpected discoveries. To Franciscans, the San Damiano cross is one of the most well-known images, but learning about the various details of it is like entering a new and fascinating world.’
‘I found this booklet impossible to put down and wanted it to go on much longer.’
__________________
Andre Cirino OFM
I have waited for this book since I first began bringing pilgrims to Assisi 35 years ago. While everyone who writes about the San Damiano Crucifix acknowledges it to be an icon, this is the first explanation that concentrates on its profound iconic meaning, a welcome addition to all the literature that surrounds this symbol of Franciscan identity and solidarity.
André Cirino, OFM—Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs