JESSIE REIMER
Staff Writer
An exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Center showcases artworks and artifacts in a religious tribute to icons of the Middle Ages. “Icons From Sinai” will be on display until March 4 at the center in Los Angeles.
The exhibit features religious icons from the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai, Egypt. “Icons from Sinai” creates a spiritual atmosphere both stunning and vital to the visual treasury of St. Catherine’s. The Getty captures the essence of the monastery and brings it to Los Angeles.
On display at the Getty is a piece from the late 1100s called, “The Heavenly Ladder of Saint John Climacus.” It is a manuscript describing the 30 steps toward spiritual salvation, according to Saint John Climacus. The number 30 is significant as it refers to Christ’s age at the start of his ministry. In the manuscript, demons pull monks who cannot resist temptation down into the mouth of hell. To view each page of the work, the Getty offers computer-scanned images complete with zoom option and historical descriptions.
Among the many artifacts on display at the exhibit, a 10-minute feature film entitled “Holy Image, Hallowed Ground” continuously loops for passersby to watch and learn more about the exhibition and the pieces displayed. The film follows the lives and traditions of the monks at St. Catherine’s, the oldest continuously Christian church in existence.
More formally known as the Sacred and Imperial Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai, St. Catherine’s adopted its nickname around the 11th or 12th century in honor of St. Catherine, after a collection of her relics arrived in Sinai. The foot of Mount Sinai is said to be the location where Moses encountered God in the form of a burning bush and where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.
Located in the middle of the desert, St. Catherine’s remote setting allowed for the preservation of the icons, and the monastery now houses more than half of all surviving icons from the Byzantine Church.
In Orthodox churches like St. Catherine’s, icons are paintings of saints and depictions of historical occurrences. They are not simply works of art — their religious purpose is fulfilled through the prayer and worship of believers.
Icons serve as both remembrance and representation of the sacred. Theological debates over icons from 726 to 834 A.D. resulted in iconoclasm, or the banning and destruction of religious icons. A painting of Saint Theodosa, featured on the pamphlet for the exhibit, represents the opposition to iconoclasm. Many people who defended icons, like Saint Theodosa, perished during this time period.
Icons were cherished by the people in the Middle Ages, and they offer historical clues into the cultural lifestyles of individuals that lived centuries ago.
The urban setting of the Getty provides a unique environment in which to view these ancient artifacts. Nestled atop the Santa Monica Mountains, the Getty overlooks the vast and busy streets of downtown Los Angeles and stretches westward toward the ocean, creating one of the most coveted aerial views in town.
Upon arrival at the Getty, visitors ride a tram up the mountainside to reach the facility. At the Getty, an overwhelming composition of Italian marble, luscious gardens and fascinating fountains house an array of European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts and photography.
The Getty offers “Icons from Sinai” exhibition tours Tuesdays through Sundays at 3 p.m. The exhibit will close in fewer than three weeks, so grab a handful of friends and carpool to the Getty to experience a spiritual appreciation of historic artifacts. It is much easier than hopping a flight over to Egypt to see the real deal and much cheaper. Admission to the Getty is free and parking costs $8.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday. The Getty stays open late on Friday and Saturday, closing at 9 p.m. For more information, visit the Web site at getty.edu.
Submitted 02-15-2007