40 days after the death of Bodour Latif (1921 – 2012), Watani remembers
Egypt has lost one of the great pioneers of Coptic iconography with the passing away of Bodour Latif on 20 March. On 27 April her family and friends marked her arbaeen, the 40th day after her death.
40 days after the death of Bodour Latif (1921 – 2012), Watani remembers
Egypt has lost one of the great pioneers of Coptic iconography with the passing away of Bodour Latif on 20 March. On 27 April her family and friends marked her arbaeen, the 40th day after her death.
Latif remained loyal in every way to her Egyptian Coptic heritage. Her unique creative abilities over 50 years of Coptic art enabled her to be one of the most important figures in Coptic iconography of our era.
Latif graduated from Cairo University with a degree in fine arts in 1946, having studied drawing and watercolour under such artists as Habib Gorgi and Shafik Rizk, dean of the Higher Institute for Artistic Education.
As a gifted artist, Latif was one of the first students in the Coptic arts and architecture iconography programme at the Higher Institute for Coptic Studies, where she received a diploma in Coptic Art in 1961. Two years later she became a professor at the same institute.
Associated to her name
Together with her iconographer husband Youssef Nassif, whose signature went side-by-side with hers on their paintings, Latif produced prolific icons in their own studio. Their work was inspired by the Holy Bible, Christmas, Epiphany and the Last Supper. Over the span of half a century they created a style that has become associated with their names. Their creations reflect the spirituality and authenticity of Coptic art, yet with an unmistakable touch of the genuinely Egyptian folkloric character. The Holy Virgin and female characters in the icons wear their hair in braids just like any typical peasant woman; the eyes and features are those one sees in typical Egyptian faces. These traits gave the Nassif/Latif icons a character uniquely their own, and left a lasting endearing sentiment.
The Nassif/Latif icons can be seen in churches all over the world. The iconographers have received awards for their icons that hang in churches in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Their most recent awards were honorary doctorates and fellowship of the Coptic Studies Institute in 1993 at the hands of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (1922 – 2012).
WATANI International
13 May 2012