DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43337#0329
326 | THE WALL PAINTINGS OF AKHTALA MONASTERY
14 See Virsaladze ТВ. On the gene-
ral composition of the murals of
Atenia's Zion, p. 17. - In Russian, see
Bibliography.
15 Lazarev V.N. A History of Byzantine
Painting, p. 134. — In Russian, see Bib-
liography. Preparing a new edition,
the scholar somewhat changed his
dating, pointing out that in style
the Akhtala murals followed mature
12th-century traditions, see Lazarev,
History.
Unlike Durnovo who from the 1930s onwards lived for many years
in Armenia, Shalva Amiranashvili examined the Akhtala paintings in
the context of the Georgian art history. In his view the Akhtala paint-
ings, «with the exception of those in the sanctuary (which show a clear
Greek influence), are organically connected with the main trend in
Georgian monumental art». He also divides the paintings into two
layers belonging to different periods. However, he dates the earlier
frescoes to the first half of the 12th century, considering that the later
paintings of the west wall belong to the very end of the 12th centu-
ry, and drawing a stylistic analogy with the wall paintings of Betania.
This view has been generally accepted by the Georgian specialists. But
they now attribute the paintings of the first layer to the early 13th cen-
tury instead.
In 1970 s XX the Akhtala murals attracted the attention of foreign
researchers of the Georgian monumental art. Jackline Lafontaine-Do-
sogne combines the murals of Akhtala, Vardzia and Betania into
a single stylistic group. While admitting that the Akhtala paintings
may date back to the beginning of the 13th century14, she stresses the
role of the traditions of the preceding century and believes that the
style is typical of the late Comnenian period. In a brief description
Lafontaine-Dosogne also notes the purely Byzantine character of the
iconographic programme. V.N. Lazarev agreed with a dating of the
frescoes in the altar apse to the beginning of the 12th century, but ex-
pressed doubt as to the Greek origin of the chief master: he argued
that «the manner of painting suggests local work»15.
In recent years the Akhtala wall paintings have attracted the at-
tention of foreign researchers of Georgian monumental art. J. Lafon-
taine-Dosogne combines the murals of Akhtala, Vardzia and Betania
into a single stylistic group. While admitting
that the Akhtala paintings may date back to the
beginning of the 13th century, she stresses the
role of the traditions of the preceding century
and believes that the style is typical of the late
Comnenian period16. In a brief description La-
fontaine-Dosogne also notes the purely Byzan-
tine character of the iconographic programme.
Analysing the influence of Byzantine art
on Georgian monumental painting. Doula
14 See Virsaladze ТВ. On the gene-
ral composition of the murals of
Atenia's Zion, p. 17. - In Russian, see
Bibliography.
15 Lazarev V.N. A History of Byzantine
Painting, p. 134. — In Russian, see Bib-
liography. Preparing a new edition,
the scholar somewhat changed his
dating, pointing out that in style
the Akhtala murals followed mature
12th-century traditions, see Lazarev,
History.
Unlike Durnovo who from the 1930s onwards lived for many years
in Armenia, Shalva Amiranashvili examined the Akhtala paintings in
the context of the Georgian art history. In his view the Akhtala paint-
ings, «with the exception of those in the sanctuary (which show a clear
Greek influence), are organically connected with the main trend in
Georgian monumental art». He also divides the paintings into two
layers belonging to different periods. However, he dates the earlier
frescoes to the first half of the 12th century, considering that the later
paintings of the west wall belong to the very end of the 12th centu-
ry, and drawing a stylistic analogy with the wall paintings of Betania.
This view has been generally accepted by the Georgian specialists. But
they now attribute the paintings of the first layer to the early 13th cen-
tury instead.
In 1970 s XX the Akhtala murals attracted the attention of foreign
researchers of the Georgian monumental art. Jackline Lafontaine-Do-
sogne combines the murals of Akhtala, Vardzia and Betania into
a single stylistic group. While admitting that the Akhtala paintings
may date back to the beginning of the 13th century14, she stresses the
role of the traditions of the preceding century and believes that the
style is typical of the late Comnenian period. In a brief description
Lafontaine-Dosogne also notes the purely Byzantine character of the
iconographic programme. V.N. Lazarev agreed with a dating of the
frescoes in the altar apse to the beginning of the 12th century, but ex-
pressed doubt as to the Greek origin of the chief master: he argued
that «the manner of painting suggests local work»15.
In recent years the Akhtala wall paintings have attracted the at-
tention of foreign researchers of Georgian monumental art. J. Lafon-
taine-Dosogne combines the murals of Akhtala, Vardzia and Betania
into a single stylistic group. While admitting
that the Akhtala paintings may date back to the
beginning of the 13th century, she stresses the
role of the traditions of the preceding century
and believes that the style is typical of the late
Comnenian period16. In a brief description La-
fontaine-Dosogne also notes the purely Byzan-
tine character of the iconographic programme.
Analysing the influence of Byzantine art
on Georgian monumental painting. Doula