The sacred Icon of the "Madonna delle
Grazie" is a painting in a real Byzantine style.
This pictorial work is by an unknown author and dates back to the 12
century. Some people say that this painting comes from that dreadful
fight aginst the images and sacred things that took place in 726 after
the sacrilegious edict of Leone III.
As a matter of fact the iconoclastic fight caused the escape of artists
and works from the Middle East, and those people not being able to
repair to the near but also hostile Maslem towns, repaired to Italy, the
cradle of the persecutees of very religion and faith.
That movement produced a very great artistic revival towards the
Byzantine art especially in our country and above all in Rome where some
Byzantine teachers founded a school of mosaic and painting.
The sacred Icon of our Lady of Graces in Sonnino is attributed to this
school. Maybe it was bought in Rome by the prince who wanted to give it
to his loved people and worship the glory in the enlarged nice Church of
San Michele Arcangelo.
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