Coptic Art: Expression & Influences

Traditional Arts

• Traditional arts refer to the artistic traditions of the Coptic people.
• Dr. Lina Atef is the author of the material.

Coptic Art as a Gift

• Coptic art emerged as a unique gift to the Egyptian people.
• It became their primary means of self-expression.
• It served as a way to distance themselves from pagan influences prevalent in other art forms.

Ancient Egyptian Influences

• Coptic art subjects relied upon two basic sources
• Ancient Egyptian influences were transmitted through Hellenistic art
• Influences were also taken from Greek and Roman mythology, reinterpreted through Christian symbolism.
• Common subjects included:
  • The story of a woman lying on the ground holding an earthly ball.
  • The depiction of Europe as a revolutionary woman.
  • Stories of Aphrodite and Venus.
  • Hunting scenes.
  • Warriors
  • Dancers.

Christian Stories in Coptic Art

• Coptic artists use Christian stories, inspired by sacred texts to embody and illustrate religious faith through symbolism.
• Art serving faith depicts victorious heroes overcoming evil.
• The ancient Egyptian artistic influence is evident in the portrayal of the dead before the Temple of Osiris.
• Images of saints are painted in festive landscapes, holding symbols of faith akin to ancient Egyptian art.
• Favorite topics in Coptic art found on catacomb walls include:
  • Images of the Good Shepherd.
  • The raising of Lazarus.
  • Three boys in the fire.
  • Jonah being thrown into the sea.
  • Christ between Paul and Peter.

Influence of Ancient Egyptian Art on Coptic Art

• Coptic art mirrors Pharaonic art in meticulous detail, striving towards tradition, especially in clothing
• Innovatively, it illustrates saints' lives and events extensively on walls, avoiding empty space.
• It adopts Pharaonic luxury within churches and offers a luxurious ambiance.
• Symbolic photography, inspired by the Pharaonic style, depicts biblical and historical origins in churches.
• Coptic artists, like ancient Egyptians, frame drawings with decorations and botanical elements.
• Pharaonic influence extends to column capitals adorned with baskets, branches, palms, and papyrus.
• Coptic art adds coexistence themes, harmonizing humans and animals alike.
• Art borrowed elements through politics and trade
• Via Alexandria's location, Coptic art integrated Greek and Roman acanthus crowns.
• Coptic art reinterpreted Roman styles while drawing from Byzantine and Sasanian arts.
• The core nationalism and originality of Egyptian culture were preserved in the art.

Features of Coptic Art

• Coptic art merges Pharaonic, Roman, Greek, Hellenistic, Palmyrian, Syrian, Sassanid, Persian, Ptolemaic, Byzantine, Christian, and folk art elements.
• It is the first Middle Eastern art stemming directly from the people, not the state, originating with Egyptian Christians after 313 AD.
• Coptic art is considered the first folk art, emerging as rulers left Egypt.
• Coptic art appears in both religious and civil matters, extending beyond churches to priestly garments and public life.
• It reflects the interests of the whole Egyptian population.
• Geometric motifs based on triangles, squares, and circles evolved into converging and intersecting lines
• This led to a decorative direction.
• Skilled coordination of diverse decorative components drawn from Coptic innovation, Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman elements.
• Coptic art includes intersecting lines, clear shapes, and bright, saturated colors.
• Artwork demonstrates concern for adornment and beauty.
• Its intention is to refine taste and encourage adoration for truth, goodness and beauty.
• The decoration of coffins, mosaics, jewelry, precious stones, clothing, books, pages, friezes, and capitals.
• It focuses on figure beauty in smaller artifacts like tools, ornaments, and textiles due to resource scarcity.
• Severe persecution prompted artists to avoid vastness, contrasting ancient Egyptian stone monuments.
• Environmental themes appear in artistic expressions using diverse materials such as textiles, stones, leaves, and icons.
• Its people exhibit Egyptian characteristics, skin color, pets, and flora.
• The Museum of Alexandria holds realistic Tanagra statues, unparalleled in completeness, coloration, expressiveness, portraying daily social interactions.
• Coptic art reflects woman's ideals, adornment, and diverse hairdressing methods.
• This art expresses political, social and economic events simply
• The simplicity is also evident in the absence of garment detail in sculptures and paintings compared to Roman or Byzantine art.
• Coptic art, characterized by commitment and simplicity, objectively prioritizes subject over form.
• Miniature painting on paper and leather uses metallic oxide drawings
• Combining photographic style with artistic creativity.
• Coptic art distinguishes itself by depicting halos or crowns on martyrs and saints.
• Departing from Greek customs, Coptic art typically omitted silver or metal ornaments save for the face & hands.

Famous symbols in Coptic art

• The crocodile symbolized the Nile River, adopted by Copts as a distinctive sign.
• The fish represents Jesus choosing fishermen as disciples, becoming a password and widespread symbol.
• Peacocks were believed to expel evil spirits, making them a favored symbol in Coptic art.
• The cross and the sign of life marks a need for Christians to identify each other in Roman persecution era gatherings in tombs and tunnels.