FEMALE DONATION AND REPRESENTATION IN SERBIAN MEDIEVAL VISUAL CULTURE: QUEEN AND EMPRESS JELENA (C. 1330-1376)
Études balkaniques (Sofia) 2023, N 3
Svetlana Smolčić MAKULJEVIC
Belgrade Metropolitan University
Serbia
Abstract: Female donation and representation are an important part of Serbian medieval visual culture. This paper explores the donation and representation of queen and empress Jelena in Serbian visual culture. It points to the mechanisms of presence and visibility of Jelena in the life of medieval Serbia by way of her participation in political matters of the state, her participation in the creation of visual culture, donations she made as a female ruler along with her husband, her visual portraits in monumental fresco painting, as well as her erection of endowments during Emperor Dušan’s lifetime
Keywords: female donation, representation, visual culture, medieval Serbia, Queen and Empress Jelena