akhtala monastery murals surp astvatsatsin armenia

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Akhtala Monastery or Murals of Surp Astvatsatsin in Armenia Royalty Free Stock Photo

Inside Akhtala Monastery or Murals of Surp Astvatsatsin in Armenia Royalty Free Stock Photo

Akhtala Monastery or Murals of Surp Astvatsatsin in Armenia

The murals are one of the best representations of Byzantine art outside the traditional borders of Byzantium. The majority of the murals bear scriptures in Greek. The murals were painted under the patronage of atabek Ivane Mkhargrdzeli between 1205 and 1216. Parallels have been drawn between the murals and the 11th century Armenian miniature paintings of the Mugni Gospels. he coloring of the murals is characteristic of typical Byzantine art while the thematic solutions are more Armenian. New and Old Testaments scenes as well as various saints including Saint Gregory the Illuminator are depicted on the murals.