Virgin and Child on Bronze (Moskos)

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Virgin and Child on Bronze
Greek: Η Παναγία Βρεφοκρατούσα,
Italian: La Madonna col Bambino su Bronzo
Virgin and Child on Bronze.png
Artist Elias Moskos
Yearc. 1650-1687
Mediumtempera on wood
Movement Heptanese School
SubjectVirgin and Child
Dimensions98 cm× 63 cm(38.5 in× 24.8 in)
Location Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece
Owner Benaki Museum
Website Official Website

The Virgin and Child on Bronze is an egg tempera painting by Greek painter Elias Moskos. Moskos was originally from Crete. The painter migrated to Zakinthos. Two other painters with the name Moskos were active during his lifetime. They were Ioannis Moskos and Leos Moskos. All three painters were affiliated with Venice. Fifty-two of Elias's paintings survived. It is difficult to characterize the work of some painters belonging to the late Cretan School. Some artists also belong to the Heptanese School. The technical migration from the maniera Greca of Cretan-Venetian painting to the more refined Ionian-Venetian style is visible in the works of Elias Moskos and Theodoros Poulakis. His painting of the Virgin and Child drastically migrates from the traditional mannerism prevalent in Cretan painting. The painting clearly belongs to the Heptanese School. His painting of the Virgin and Child is at the Benaki Museum in Athens Greece. [1] [2]

Contents

Description

The painting is egg tempera and bronze on a wood panel. Moskos chose bronze over the traditional gold leaf. Bronze was rarely used by painters. The height is 98 cm (38.5 in) and the width is 63 cm (24.8 in). The painting features the Virgin holding child Jesus. The position is the traditional Hodegetria. The painter used the traditional heavenly garment typical of Greek-Italian Byzantine painting. The artist refined the common prototype of the Cretan Renaissance. The flesh tones and features of both the Virgin and Child exhibit a shadowing technique. The artist adds more realism to the celestial beings. The curvature in the Virgin's face is apparent. The young infant exhibits clearer facial features and dimensions. The two angels crowning the Virgin are fully visible. The representatives of the celestial realm exhibit fuller features. The painter chooses to escape the traditional style of representing the angles. Their garments feature striations and folds of fabric. Part of their garments are floating in harmony with their lavishly painted wings. The angels are weightless figures in a spaceless setting. The most important part of the painting is the grey-toned background. The typical gold gilded background is replaced by dark cloudy variations of grey. The different tones and brush strokes relay the appearance of a dark cloudy day. [3] [4]

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Lamentation of Christ is an oil painting created by Greek painter Nikolaos Kantounis. He was a painter and teacher. He was a priest. His teachers were famous painters Ioannis Korais and Nikolaos Koutouzis He was a representative of the Heptanese School. His artwork was created during the Neoclassical and Romantic periods in Greek art. He was active on the island of Zakynthos from 1782–1834. He was one of the earliest members of the modern Greek art period. Over 164 of his paintings have survived. He is known for painting many portraits. He was a member of the secret organization for Greek Independence called the Filiki Eteria. Towards the end of his life he was honored with the rank of Grand Sakellarios.

<i>The Holy Trinity</i> (Romas) Painting by Spiridione Roma

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<i>The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin</i> (Moskos) Painting by Elias Moskos

The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin is a tempera painting created by Elias Moskos. Moskos was a representative of the Late Cretan School and the Heptanese School. He migrated to Zakinthos from Crete. He was originally from the city of Rethymno. He participated in the transition of Greek painting from the Cretan School to the more refined Heptanese School of the Ionian islands. He also taught painting. His activity was from 1645 to 1687. He was active on the islands of Crete, Zakynthos, and Kefalonia. He was heavily involved with church committees. Church committees commissioned paintings. Half of his works were signed fifty-two of his works survived.

<i>Virgin and Child Enthroned</i> (Romas) Painting by Spiridione Roma

The Virgin and Child Enthroned is a tempera painting created by Spyridon Romas. He was a Greek painter from the island of Corfu and a prominent member of the Heptanese School active from 1745 to 1786 in Corfu, Lecce, Livorno, and London. Twenty-five of his works survived according to research completed by the Hellenic Institute. One of few Greek painters that changed his style completely Romas transitioned from the Heptanese School to the British style of painting. He traveled to London, England around 1770, and remained in the country until his death. Romas painted several portraits but also maintained art. An important iconostasis containing most of his works is preserved in Livorno, Italy at the Museo della Città di Livorno.

References

  1. Hatzidakis, Manolis; Drakopoulou, Evgenia (1997). Έλληνες Ζωγράφοι μετά την Άλωση (1450-1830). Τόμος 2: Καβαλλάρος - Ψαθόπουλος [Greek Painters after the Fall of Constantinople (1450-1830). Volume 2: Kavallaros - Psathopoulos]. Athens: Center for Modern Greek Studies, National Research Foundation. pp. 198–203. ISBN   960-7916-00-X.
  2. Eugenia Drakopoulou (February 5, 2022). "Moskos Ilias". Institute for Neohellenic Research. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  3. Staff Writers (February 5, 2022). "Greek Art Catalogue Virgin and Child. Ilias Moskos". The Benaki Museum. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  4. Hatzidakis, 2018, pp. 198-203