Christ Pantocrator (Sinai)
Christ holds a Gospel book and raises his right hand in blessing. The surviving encaustic panel predates the Byzantine iconoclast controversy.
Key points
- Observe the frontal figure, the blessing hand, and the Gospel book.
- The Christ represented is the incarnate Son; the pigments do not depict his divine essence.
- Popular readings of facial asymmetry are interpretations, not a verified statement from the painter.
