“Konstantin Lips” series at Saatchi Art Online

My acrylic on paper paintings with variants of a leaf relief from the Constantine Lips Monastery Church (κωνσταντίνος λήψ, Monastery tou Libos, Fenari İsa Camii) in Istanbul are now on sale at Saatchi Art Online.

The leaf design that inspired me is on the marble cornice of the main apse of the north church, which was built in the tenth century. I started to sketch its enlargement in the summer of 2022. It is located 5 meters above the ground, next to the left bird figure in the center of this cornice.

Even though the north church is from the 10^th century, this leaf relief is possibly older than this date. According to Mango and Hawkins (1968), recycled materials were used in the decorating of the north church, including recurved antique slabs for the cornices and the capitals of the pilasters. Additionally, these recycled materials were initially found at Cyzicus (also known as Kyzikos in Mysia, Balkesir).

So, this leaf pattern on the apse cornice is an ancient design.

You can order open edition prints of my Konstantin Lips series on Saatchi Art.