Christ Pantocrator (Palladas)

Christ Pantocrator is a tempera painting created by Ieremias Palladas. Ieremias was associated with Saint Catherine's sacred monastery in Egypt also known as Mount Sinai. He was a Sinaitic monk, painter, and teacher. His nephew Gerasimos Palladas became the Patriarch of Alexandria. There was a dependency of Saint Catherine's Monastery which was in Mount Sinai, Egypt on the island of Crete which was called Saint Catherine's Monastery of Heraklion. The site in Egypt was believed by Christians to be the site where Moses saw the burning bush. The Patriarch of Jerusalem Nectarius wrote about the painter in his archives because Ieremias was one of the most influential figures of his time.

Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity, the world's largest religion. He was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. Since the inception of the religion, he has been depicted in countless paintings. Christ Pantocrator is a specific depiction of the almighty. The word is derived from the Greek words παντός (pantos) meaning all and κράτος (kratos), meaning power and dominion. The word Pantocrator defines Christ as the ruler and judge of heaven and earth. The earliest known depiction of Christ as Christ Pantocrator (Sinai) was painted during the 6th century. The work of art is part of the collection of Saint Catherine's Monastery. Church domes became a common site of Pantocrator images in the Greek and Italian world. The specific version painted by Ieremias was a common theme used by painters during the Proto-Renaissance. Luca di Tommè and Andreas Pavias both created similar versions. Palladas' work is more in line with the style adapted by Pavias. Later artists such as El Greco and Titian replaced the bible with a globe the painting theme became known as Salvator Mundi. The current painting was removed from the Church of Saint Nicholas, Ialysos (Trianta), Rhodes, Greece, and is now on display at Panagia tou Kastrou.

Description
The work of art was completed between 1608 and 1645. It follows the traditional Greek Italian Byzantine Proto-Renaissance style. The height of the work is 117.5 cm (46.3 in.) and the width is 78.5 cm (30.9 in.). The painting was completed using gold leaf, wood panel, and egg tempera paint. The icon follows the traditional maniera greca which is characterized by a gilded background, flattened space, and striations to suggest folds of fabric. The artwork is well-preserved and is roughly four hundred years old. Precious gems and jewels adorn the Bible. Christ holds the Holy Bible in his left hand and the Pantocrator blesses the world with the sign of benediction with his right hand. His hair features clearly established lines, contours, and grooves and creates spatial depth. Ieremias paints clear curvature and shadows on the subject's face. Christ's attire features luxuriant patterns and brilliant colors representative of his celestial majestic stature. The template used by Ieremias was common for painters of the Cretan school. Each specific iconic variation featured distinguishable differences but it was a common theme from 1400 until today. The painter also signed his work which was common after the 1400s for Greek and Italian painters.