Royal portraits in wall paintings of Serbian nobility at the time of the Nemanja dynasty

Abstract

The preserved wall paintings of Serbian nobility originate mainly from the period of the rule of King and Emperor Dusan (1331-1346, 1346-1355) and Emperor Uros (1355-1371). Portraits of these rulers or their family members have been preserved in eight aristocratic endowments. These are: narthex of the Church of the Virgin in Kuceviste, the White Church of Karan, the Church of Our Lady in Dobrun, the Church of St. Nicholas in Ljuboten, the Church of St. George in the Polosko, the Church of the Virgin in Lipljan, the narthex of the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Lesnovo, and the Church of St. Nicholas in Psaca. In this paper, the mentioned portraits were analyzed iconographically, especially in relation to their location in the temple where they are presented, and in particular, the relation nobleman (ktitor) - ruler was investigated.