Isaac Fanous
Encyclopedia
Isaac Fanous was an Egyptian
artist and scholar, who specialized in Coptic art
and founded its contemporary school.
to gain his degree from The Faculty of Applied arts now part of Helwan University
in Egypt in 1941 and got a diploma in teaching in 1943.
Fanous was one of the first students of the Institute of Coptic Studies
founded in 1954 and he obtained his doctorate in 1958 . His two-year study grant in the Louvre
in the mid- 1960s was a turning point in his career. He took the opportunity, while in France, to study icon painting under Léonid Ouspensky
, under whose patronage he developed a passion both as artist and theologian. This would lead, eventually, to his developing a style that was to become the new face of Coptic iconography
in the mid-20th century.
Fanous chaired the Coptic Art department at the Institute of Coptic Studies
in Cairo
, and he has trained a number of other Copt
ic artists from outside Egypt.
which have Icon
s that are similar to a lot of the European (Western) Christianity Iconography style.
Fanous's contemporary school of icon painting came about as part of a general renaissance of Coptic culture which began during the patriarchate of Pope Cyril VI
(1959–1971).
He capitalised on the already established Coptic style which could be seen in historic Coptic Churches, but in his own style which he developed over the years.
The style of his painting is called Modern Coptic style and as he was a pioneer in this field Fanous is considered the father of modern Coptic icon painting and the initiator of the modern renaissance in Coptic art
.
Fanous drew all the pictures and icons in St. Takla Haymanot's Church
in Alexandria
, which was consecrated in 1969. Between 1977 and 1978, he spent six months in the UK to paint icons in St Mark's Coptic Orthodox church in Allen Street, Kensington
, London.
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
artist and scholar, who specialized in Coptic art
Coptic art
Coptic art is a term used either for the art of Egypt produced in the early Christian era or for the art produced by the Coptic Christians themselves. Coptic art is most well known for its wall-paintings, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork, much of which survives in monasteries and...
and founded its contemporary school.
Early life and teaching
Fanous was born in Al-Minya and moved to CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
to gain his degree from The Faculty of Applied arts now part of Helwan University
Helwan University
Helwan University is a public university based in Helwan in Egypt. It comprises 18 faculties as well as 50 research centers.Generally, it is known for engineering and business studies...
in Egypt in 1941 and got a diploma in teaching in 1943.
Fanous was one of the first students of the Institute of Coptic Studies
Institute of Coptic Studies
The Institute of Coptic Studies was founded in 1954 by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It is based in Cairo....
founded in 1954 and he obtained his doctorate in 1958 . His two-year study grant in the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
in the mid- 1960s was a turning point in his career. He took the opportunity, while in France, to study icon painting under Léonid Ouspensky
Léonid Ouspensky
Léonid Alexandrovich Ouspensky was a famous Russian iconographer.He was born in 1902 on his father’s estate in the village of Golaia Snova in the north of the Voronezh region in Russia and died in 1987....
, under whose patronage he developed a passion both as artist and theologian. This would lead, eventually, to his developing a style that was to become the new face of Coptic iconography
Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
in the mid-20th century.
Fanous chaired the Coptic Art department at the Institute of Coptic Studies
Institute of Coptic Studies
The Institute of Coptic Studies was founded in 1954 by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It is based in Cairo....
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, and he has trained a number of other Copt
Copt
The Copts are the native Egyptian Christians , a major ethnoreligious group in Egypt....
ic artists from outside Egypt.
Political changes
As wealthy patrons of the arts disappeared from Egypt's hitherto cosmopolitan art world following the 1952 revolution, they were replaced by the state, and the career of Fanous took off from the struggles and experiences of his time. That is to say, he became more keenly aware of his Egyptian heritage. He was proud of everything that comes from Al-Minya since the time of Akhnaten, who built his city in this area.Modern Coptic iconography
For centuries before painters like Isaac Fanous the Coptic Orthodox church had its own style which is recognised as The Coptic style. Under the influence of the European art spread to Egypt in the nineteenth Century there are a lot of the Churches in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
which have Icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s that are similar to a lot of the European (Western) Christianity Iconography style.
Fanous's contemporary school of icon painting came about as part of a general renaissance of Coptic culture which began during the patriarchate of Pope Cyril VI
Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria
Father Mina became Pope of Alexandria on 10 May 1959 . In accordance with the old Coptic church tradition, Pope Cyril VI was the only monk in the 20th century to be chosen for papacy without having being a bishop /Metropolitan first...
(1959–1971).
He capitalised on the already established Coptic style which could be seen in historic Coptic Churches, but in his own style which he developed over the years.
The style of his painting is called Modern Coptic style and as he was a pioneer in this field Fanous is considered the father of modern Coptic icon painting and the initiator of the modern renaissance in Coptic art
Coptic art
Coptic art is a term used either for the art of Egypt produced in the early Christian era or for the art produced by the Coptic Christians themselves. Coptic art is most well known for its wall-paintings, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork, much of which survives in monasteries and...
.
Fanous drew all the pictures and icons in St. Takla Haymanot's Church
St. Takla Haymanot's Church (Alexandria)
St. Takla Haymanot's Church is a Coptic Orthodox church in the city of Alexandria, Egypt, located in the district of Ibrahimia near Alexandria Sporting Club. Consecrated on 19 June 1969, it is dedicated to Saint Takla Haymanot, a 13th-century Ethiopian monk...
in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, which was consecrated in 1969. Between 1977 and 1978, he spent six months in the UK to paint icons in St Mark's Coptic Orthodox church in Allen Street, Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London.
See also
- Coptic artCoptic artCoptic art is a term used either for the art of Egypt produced in the early Christian era or for the art produced by the Coptic Christians themselves. Coptic art is most well known for its wall-paintings, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork, much of which survives in monasteries and...
- Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
- IconIconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
- List of prominent Copts
External links
- Obituary for Isaac Fanous in Al Ahram daily newspaper in Arabic
- Mosaic Frescos of St. Takla Haymanot's Story, Alexandria, Egypt
- St Mark's Coptic Orthodox church website , which includes a gallery of the Icons of the church
- Coptic Icons.
- The Coptic Icons from Holy Virgin Mary Church in Los Angeles
- New icon for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- http://www.copts-united.com/wrr/go1.php?subaction=showfull&id=1169064300&archive=&start_from=&ucat=79&