Andachtsbilder

Devotional images are usually carved or painted depictions of Christian iconography with events and content that will serve the devotion of the faithful. Are typical themes from the life and suffering of Jesus Christ, Mary and the saints. Differences are devotional images in general, which may also be sculptures, and small-scale devotional.

Terminology

The concept of devotional picture was coined in German art history after 1900, especially by Georg Dehio and Erwin Panofsky. In contrast to the art historical concept of devotional picture religious folklore refers to small-scale, mostly created without special artistic claim works, focusing on the promotion of popular piety and private edification, as a "small devotional picture " ( in the vernacular devotional ). Coined the term Adolf spamer, whose work is the standard work on the history and forms of small devotional picture. However, this term is not commonly used; often the word devotional image is used synonymously for the little devotional.

The medieval devotional image

Mostly it is in the common since the early 13th century devotional images to small wooden sculptures that were created by disentanglement of certain motifs from the traditional scenes. Hans Belting assumes that an important impetus for the devotional image of the - especially after the occupation of Constantinople ( 1204) - arrived in the West icons went out.

Common motifs of devotional images are subjects of passion, namely the standing Christ with the Crown of Thorns ( Ecce Homo ), the seated Christ with the Crown of Thorns ( Christ in the rest ), the Christ - John Group (John Minne ), Christ as the Man of Sorrows ( Erbärmdebild ) Mary or angels with Jesus' body ( Pietà ) or ( Engelspietà ) and individual Marie representations as the Mater Dolorosa and the crescent moon Madonna.

The emergence of devotional paintings goes back to changes in mysticism and popular piety that Christ no longer primarily viewed as a radiant winner and king, but as a sufferer and sought to achieve an inner relationship. This development is in the wider context of a subjectivation of religiosity in the 13th century and was reinforced by experiences with pain and death in the years of the plague (see Entombment of Christ ( image type ) ). Art of historic significance they are mainly because they witness a move away from the didactic nature of the iconographic images of the 12th and 13th centuries to a more emotive, affective representation. The image type of devotional picture is also reflected in modern art.

Man of Sorrows, Erbärmdebild

Pietà

Johannes Minne

The small devotional picture ( devotional )

Saints and devotional play for centuries in practical everyday faith of Catholics a major role.

The small devotional picture was also in the first half of the 14th century convents from the need to such images personally to possess about as jewelry inlay of the prayer book, and to carry with them. The images were also distributed outside the monastery of itinerant preachers to support their preaching .. The demand was soon so great that a brisk trade developed, procured the monasteries welcome revenue. The images were initially painted by hand on a small format parchment, paper or fabric. Typical motives are the infant Jesus, the Passion of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints. The need of personal piety enough even simple motifs such as sign of the cross, Christ and Mary Monograms and miraculous image copies were used as an amulet list and smallest formats as Schluckbildchen - condition was that they were consecrated and sanctified it. Widely disseminated devotional pictures in the 14th and 15th centuries as a simple stamp and collectors prints, Brotteigdrucke and papier-mâché, which also allowed a slight reliefing. With the invention of the woodcut and engraving the increasing demand could be satisfied by saints. They also document the progress of printing technology. Especially during the time of Dürer acquired the portraits and artistic high quality.

Small, mostly framed treasures were arisen at the beginning of the 17th century, paper cut images ( top images ), whose elaborate production were paid even then with three-digit sums. In the 18th and 19th century they were replaced by the cheaper stamping and embossing technique and similar other memorabilia to fashionable mass produced without formal claim. With the invention of photography, chromolithograph in the 19th and the multi-color screen printing in the 20th century paintings of high art and portraits were reproduced in miniature of the small devotional picture and enjoy great popularity even today.

At high festivals of the church year, especially Easter, little pictures will be distributed as a reminder to the faithful or they serve as mementos of special occasions such as pilgrimages, Saints, first communion, religious profession, ordination, first Mass, or to Holy days and jubiliäen, about the diocesan bishop. The thumbnails are simple or folded and forth on the size suitable as an inlay in song or prayer book. On the back there prayers and find occasion.

Devotional often also serve as a memorial card, memory or memorial card issued to the deceased in remembrance at funerals. They have a similar format and are also used as inlay in prayer books. On the back of the survival data and the date of death were printed.

St. Frances of Rome, chromolithograph 1861 format 8 × 12 cm

Madonna, chromolithograph with gold print 1895 Format 5.5 × 9 cm

St. Arnold Janssen, screen printing in 1938 with contact relic, size 7 × 11 cm