Icons and Illuminations by Ioanna Belcea

In previous articles we have featured the compelling liturgical art of the studio of Ioana Belcea and today we are going to continue our consideration of her work, this time not of her mosaics and frescoes, but rather her iconography and illuminations. 

The beauty of such pieces is that, unlike mosaics and frescoes which are effectively limited to institutions such as churches, smaller pieces like icons or illuminations, are accessible as potential commissions to all. Certainly they are also something that can be commissioned by and for institutions of course, but their smaller size and cost make it realistic for someone to purchase a piece for their home, be it their home altar, their icon corner, or most anywhere else one would hang art. 

Today then we will feature a small selection of Ioana Belcea's work in this area, beginning with my own personal favourite, her "Sienese Madonna" which -- as if to prove my point -- belongs to a private owner (i.e. not a public institution).  The piece is really quite stunning both for reason of its composition, its colour, and its gold leaf work that includes a beautiful decorative stamped pattern.  

Egg tempera and 24k gold leaf, 8" x 12"

This particular Madonna is one that I think any discerning individual would be proud to place in their home or in their church for that matter. 

The next piece is no less impressive however, falling this time in the realm of medieval style illumination. It is the "Crucifix with Winchester Style Border," once again residing within a private collection. For devotees of medieval art, this particular piece could have been pulled right out of a medieval manuscript. 

Egg tempera and 24k gold leaf, 18" x 25"

Continuing on with the medieval illumination theme, this next piece of St. Michael the Archangel has a slightly contemporary twist; on the one hand it has a looser style which gives it some contemporary flair, but on the other hand, it is a piece filled with traditional imagery and even done on traditional vellum. 

Egg tempera and 23k gold leaf on calfskin parchment, 11"x 14"

Of course, many private collectors are ultimately looking for devotional images of Christ, Our Lady, or their patron saints and the like, so we will conclude today's considerations with three pieces featuring just that.  

"St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross"
Egg tempera and 24k gold leaf, 9.5" x 12.5"

"Byzantine Style Eleousa"
Egg tempera and 23k gold leaf, 4'x4'

Last but not least, we have this Byzantine style icon, but of the Western themed Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was commissioned for Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg Maryland. 

 Egg tempera with 24k gold leaf, 3'x5'

I have often held is as a principle that it is better to have even just one qualitative, original work of devotional art -- be that a polychromed wood-carved statue, be it a hand-painted image such as we see here, etc. -- than it is to have a myriad of lower quality reproductions. That singular piece of original art will not only help to support Catholic artists, it will also be a more impactful piece of devotional art for reason of its quality and originality as a work and thus something you will be able to hand on in your family down through the generations. 

It also surely sends a message about the priority one gives to one's Faith. 

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