The term Cretan School describes an important school of icon painting, also known as Post-Byzantine art, which flourished while Crete was under Venetian rule during the late Middle Ages, reaching its climax after the Fall of Constantinople, becoming the central force in Greek painting during the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Cretan artists developed a particular style of painting under the influence of both Eastern and Western artistic traditions and movements; the most famous product of the school, El Greco was the most successful of the many artists who tried to build a career in Western Europe, and also the one who left the Byzantine style furthest behind him in his later career. Look up icon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Crete (Greek Κρήτη — classical transliteration KrÄ“tÄ“, modern Greek transliteration Kríti; Ottoman Turkish گريد (Girit); Classical Latin CrÄ“ta, Vulgar Latin Candia) is the largest of the Greek islands at 8,336 km² (3,219 square miles) and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. ... Borders of the Republic of Venice in 1796 Capital Venice Language(s) Venetian, Latin Religion Roman Catholic Government Republic Doge  - 1789–97 Ludovico Manin History  - Established 697  - Treaty of Zara June 27, 1358  - Treaty of Leoben April 17, 1797 * Traditionally, the establishment of the Republic is dated to 697. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Constantine XI† Loukas Notaras Giovanni Giustiniani†[1] Mehmed II Strength 7,000[2] 80,000[1]-200,000[1][3] Casualties 4,000 dead[4] 10,000 civilian dead[5][6] - The Fall of Constantinople refers to the capture of the Byzantine capital by... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... El Greco (The Greek, 1541 – April 7, 1614) was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. ...

Icon painted by Emmanuel Tzanes Bounialis, a 17th century Cretan artist (Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, Athens).

Image File history File links TzanesIcon. ... Image File history File links TzanesIcon. ... Athens is the largest and the capital city of Greece, located in the Attica periphery. ...

15th century

There was a substantial demand for Byzantine icons in Europe throughout the Middle Ages and, as a Venetian possession since 1204, Crete had a natural advantage and soon came to dominate the supply. A probable early example is the famous icon of the Virgin in Rome known as Our Mother of Perpetual Help, which was certainly well-known in Rome by 1499. At this date there is little to distinguish Cretan work from other Byzantine icons stylistically, and the quality of work is lower than that associated with Constantinople. World map showing the location of Europe. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... [Neilhughandafriendlypeasant. ... Crete (Greek Κρήτη — classical transliteration KrÄ“tÄ“, modern Greek transliteration Kríti; Ottoman Turkish گريد (Girit); Classical Latin CrÄ“ta, Vulgar Latin Candia) is the largest of the Greek islands at 8,336 km² (3,219 square miles) and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... This article needs to be wikified. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... 1499 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Map of Constantinople. ...

The Dormition of the Virgin (before 1567, tempera and gold on panel, 61,4 x 45 cm, Holy Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin, Hermoupolis, Syros) was probably created near the end of El Greco's Cretan period. The painting combines post-Byzantine and Italian mannerist stylistic and iconographic elements, and incorporates stylistic elements of the Cretan School.

This period also saw considerable numbers of wall-paintings in local churches and monasteries - altogether some 850 from the 14th and 15th centuries survive in Crete, far more than from earlier or later periods.^[1]. Image File history File links Dormition_El_Greco. ... Image File history File links Dormition_El_Greco. ... The Dormition of the Virgin by El Greco was probably created near the end of the artists Cretan period (before 1567). ... Events The Duke of Alva arrives in the Netherlands with Spanish forces to suppress unrest there. ... A 1367 tempera on wood by Niccolò Semitecolo. ... Ermoupoli (Greek: Ερμούπολη - Ermoúpoli), also known with its formal name as Ermoupolis latinized Hermoupolis is a city in eastern Greece. ... Syros (Greek: Σύρος), or Siros or Syra is a Greek island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. ...

By the late 15th century, Cretan artists had established a distinct icon-painting style, distinguished by "the precise outlines, the modelling of the flesh with dark brown underpaint and dense tiny highlights on the cheeks of the faces, the bright colours in the garments, the geometrical treatment of the drapery, and, finally the balanced articulation of the composition" ^[2]. The most famous artist of the period was Andreas Ritzos (c. 1421-1492), whose son Nicholas was also well-known. Andreas Pavias (d. after 1504) and his pupil Angelos Bizamanos, and Nicholas Tzafuris (d. before 1501) were other leading artists.^[3] (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Crete, sometimes spelled Krete (Greek Κρήτη / Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Even before the fall of Constantinople there is evidence that leading Byzantine artists were leaving the capital in order to settle in Crete. The migration of Byzantine artists to Crete continued increasingly the next years and reached its peak after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, when Crete became "the most important centre of art in the Greek world", influencing artistic developments in the rest of the Greek world. Cretan icons were commissioned for monasteries on Mount Athos and elsewhere.^[4]. The Cretan school had a smaller rival; until it fell to the Turks in 1522, Rhodes also had a community of artists, but not so large or significant.^[5]. Map of Constantinople. ... The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ Pantocrator on the walls of the upper southern gallery. ... Map of Constantinople. ... April 2 - Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople (Ä°stanbul). ... Capital Karyes Official languages Koine Greek and Church Slavonic (both liturgical); Modern Greek, Russian, Serbian, Georgian, Bulgarian, Romanian (civil use) Government  -  Head of State2 Dora Bakoyannis  -  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I Area  -  Total 390 km²  150 sq mi  Population  -   estimate 2,250  Demonyms: Athonite, Hagiorite (English); Αθωνίτης, Αγιορίτης (Greek). ... Deer statues in Mandraki harbor, where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood This article is about the Greek island of Rhodes. ...

The Venetian archives preserve considerable documentation on the trade of artistic icons between Venice and Crete, which by the end of the 15th century had become one of mass production. There is documentation of a specific order in 1499, of seven hundred icons of the Virgin, five hundred in a Western style, and two hundred in Byzantine style. The order was placed with three artists by two dealers, one Venetian and one from mainland Greece, and the time between contract date and delivery was set at only forty-five days. Probably the quality of many such commissioned icons was fairly low, and the dismissive term Madonneri was devised to describe such bulk painters, who later practised in Italy also, often using a quasi-Byzantine style, and apparently often Greek or Dalmatian individuals. Production of icons at these levels seems to have led to a glut in the market, and in the following two decades there is much evidence that the Cretan trade declined significantly, as the European demand had been reduced ^[6]. But at the top end of the market Cretan icons were now the finest in the Byzantine world. Venetian could mean of Venice of the venetia territory of the Republic of Venice of the venet nation the Venetian language The Venetian, a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada A venetian blind - a horizontally slatted window blind. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... 1499 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Roman times, Vestal Virgins were strictly celibate or they were punished by death. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Venetian could mean of Venice of the venetia territory of the Republic of Venice of the venet nation the Venetian language The Venetian, a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada A venetian blind - a horizontally slatted window blind. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ...

16th century

About 120 artists can be documented working in Candia (the Venetian name of Chandax, present day Herakleion), in the period 1453-1526, and they had organized a Schuola di San Luca painter's guild, based on the Italian model.^[7] The blending of the Eastern and the Western traditions, and a relaxed interchange between Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic rites led to the "Cretan Renaissance", a golden period for the arts on the island, where both literature and painting flourished. Some of these painters chose to continue the Byzantine tradition of Constantinople, while others were influenced by the masters of the Venetian Renaissance, such as Giovanni Bellini and Titian.^[8] Later Veronese was to be a particular influence. Works by these masters or copies were in monasteries and churches of the island, while examples of Early Netherlandish painting decorated the Catholic churches of Candia or were to be found in the private collections of rich Venetians and Greeks.^[9] In particular, Candia contained a large Franciscan church and a large Orthodox monastery, a daughter-house of St. Catherine's, Sinai, both of which had strong collections from their respective traditions. Morosini Fountain on Venizelou square in Heraklion, Crete, built in 1628 Heraklion or Iraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειο; Italian: Candia), is the largest city and the capital of Crete. ... Morozini Fountain on Venizelou square in Heraklion, Crete, built in 1628 Heraklion or Iraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειο), Greece is the largest city and the capital of Crete. ... Jan Gossaert, , c. ... Greek Orthodox Church can refer to: the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the first among equals of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Icon painted by Emmanuel Tzanes Bounialis, a 17th century Cretan artist (Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, Athens). ... The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ Pantocrator on the walls of the upper southern gallery. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Giovanni Bellini painted his first female nude when he was about 85 years old. ... Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. ... Veronese means either of the following things: the painter Paolo Veronese someone or something from Verona, Italy. ... The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, National Gallery, London. ... Morosini Fountain on Venizelou square in Heraklion, Crete, built in 1628 Heraklion or Iraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειο), is the largest city and the capital of Crete. ... Saint Catherines Monastery (Greek: ) on the Sinai Peninsula, at the mouth of an inaccessible gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt is one of the oldest continuously functioning Christian monasteries in the world. ...

The icon is signed by Michael Damaskenos and dates from the 16th century (Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, Athens, Greece).

Contemporary documents refer to two styles in painting: the maniera greca (alla greca, in line with the Byzantine idiom) and the maniera latina (alla latina, in accordance with Western techniques), which artists knew and utilized according to the circumstances; as a result some kind of "eclecticism" appeared.^[10] Indeed, sometimes both styles could be found in the same icon, the one right next to the other.^[9] The fame of the most prominent Cretan painters spread throughout Greece, the Mediterranean and Europe. After the beginning of the 16th century the Cretan artists once again had more commissions and their works were avidly sought, since they had started to use new motives and to adjust their iconography to the new trends of their era. To an extent quantity was probably replaced by quality compared with the previous century. Image File history File links Agia_Paraskevi. ... Image File history File links Agia_Paraskevi. ... The icon is signed by Michael Damaskenos and dates from the 16th century (Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, Athens, Greece). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

Apart from El Greco, the most famous Cretan artists during the century were Theophanis Strelitzas (Θεοφάνης Στρελίτζας), known as Theophanes the Cretan, Michael Damaskenos (Μιχαήλ Δαμασκηνός), and Georgios Klontzas (Γεώργιος Κλόντζας).^[8] Various members of the Lambardos family were also significant artists. Fortunately for art historians, many Cretan painters adopted the Western practice of signing their work, which was not a traditional Byzantine practice.^[11] Lamentation from Stavronikita monastery, Mount Athos. ... The icon is signed by Michael Damaskenos and dates from the 16th century (Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, Athens, Greece). ...

El Greco The intellectual and artistic personality of the young El Greco was formed in this artistic environment. In 1563, at the age of twenty-two, El Greco was described in a document as a "master" ("maestro Domenigo"), meaning he was already an enrolled master of the local guild, presumably in charge of his own workshop.^[12] El Greco (The Greek, 1541 – April 7, 1614) was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. ... Events February 1 - Sarsa Dengel succeeds his father Menas as Emperor of Ethiopia February 18 - The Duke of Guise is assassinated while besieging Orléans March - Peace of Amboise. ... El Greco (The Greek, 1541 – April 7, 1614) was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. ...

Migration of Cretan artists During the second half of the sixteenth century, many Cretan artists went to Venice, in the hope of gaining commissions and recognition. Unlike El Greco, the other Cretan painters who moved there did not substantially alter their styles or working methods. They simply incorporated more Italian motifs into a consistent Byzantine framework. Jonathan Brown provides a perceptive analysis of the ways that El Greco distinguished himself from other Cretan artists active in Venice, while Richard Mann argues that "none of these painters accepted Renaissance ideas about the relevance of change to the creation of art works".^[13] Michael Damaskenos returned to Crete after three years, and remained there for the rest of his life. Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venezsia, Latin: Venetia) is a city in northern Italy, the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,251 (census estimate January 1, 2004). ... Jonathan Brown (born 29 October 1981) is a three-time Australian Football League premiership winning forward for the Brisbane Lions. ...

17th century

Prominent representatives of the Cretan School during the 17th century were the painter who signed just as "Angelos", Father Emmanuel Tzanes (Εμμανουήλ Τζάνες, 1610-1690), Emmanuel Lambardos and Theodoros Poulakis (Θεόδωρος Πουλάκης, 1622-1692). The Cretan icon painters continued to flourish, until the mid-century, when the Ottoman Turks occupied all the island except for Candia, which finally fell after twenty years of siege in 1669^[14]. After the Ottoman occupation of Crete, the centre of Greek painting moved to the Ionian Islands, which remained under Venetian rule until the Napoleonic Wars. A new artistic movement was created called the School of the Ionian islands which was mostly influenced by Western European artistic trends. Many Cretan artists migrated to the Heptanese or Western Europe to enjoy the artistic freedom. A successive occupation of the Ionian islands by the French and the British allowed the Heptanese to remain the centre of Greek Art until the independence of Greece in 1830. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–65) Edirne (1365–1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453–1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy [[Category:Former monarchies}}|Ottoman Empire, 1299]] Sultans  - 1281–1326... // Events Samuel Pepys stopped writing his diary. ... The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ionioi Nisoi, Ιόνιοι Νήσοι; Ancient Greek: Ionioi Nesoi, Ιόνιοι Νήσοι) are a group of islands in Greece. ... Venetian could mean of Venice of the venetia territory of the Republic of Venice of the venet nation the Venetian language The Venetian, a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada A venetian blind - a horizontally slatted window blind. ... Combatants Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Sicily  Spain[3]  Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Italy Naples [5] Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[6] Saxony[7] Denmark-Norway [8] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick â€  Prince of Hohenlohe... The Heptanese School of painting (Greek: ) or Ionian Island School is the first artistic movement in Greece that was shaped by Western European artistic influences which appeared in the Ionian islands in the middle of the 17th century until the middle of the 19th century[1]. // The Ionian islands or... Western Europe is distinguished from Central Europe and Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... The borders of Western Europe were largely defined by the Cold War. ... The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ionia Nisia, Ιόνια Νησιά; Ancient Greek: Ionioi Nesoi, Ιόνιοι Νήσοι) are a group of islands in Greece. ... Greece has a rich and varied artistic history, spanning some 4000 years and beginning in the Minoan prehistorical civilization, giving birth to Western classical art in the ancient period (and developing this during the Hellenistic Period), to taking in the influences of the East and the new religion of Christianity... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Main article: Heptanese School

The Heptanese School of painting (Greek: ) or Ionian Island School is the first artistic movement in Greece that was shaped by Western European artistic influences which appeared in the Ionian islands in the middle of the 17th century until the middle of the 19th century[1]. // The Ionian islands or...

See also

Our Mother of Perpetual Help, probably an early Cretan work, 13th or 14th century. Certainly in Rome by 1499.

• Byzantine art
• Our Mother of Perpetual Help
• El Greco
• Byzantine scholars in Renaissance
• Renaissance
• Crete
• National Gallery (Athens)
• Dormition of the Virgin

Our Mother of Perpetual Help The copyright status of this old image is undetermined; it may still be copyrighted. ... Our Mother of Perpetual Help The copyright status of this old image is undetermined; it may still be copyrighted. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ Pantocrator on the walls of the upper southern gallery. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... El Greco (The Greek, 1541 – April 7, 1614) was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. ... The migration of Byzantine-Greek scholars or Byzantine emigres from Byzantium during the decline of the Byzantine empire (1203-1453) and mainly after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 until the 16th century, is considered by modern scholars as crucial in the revival of Greek and Roman studies, arts and... The Renaissance (French for rebirth, or Rinascimento in Italian), was a cultural movement in Italy (and in Europe in general) that began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century. ... Crete (Greek Κρήτη — classical transliteration Krētē, modern Greek transliteration Kríti; Ottoman Turkish گريد (Girit); Classical Latin Crēta, Vulgar Latin Candia) is the largest of the Greek islands at 8,336 km² (3,219 square miles) and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. ... The National Art Gallery and Alexander Soutzos Museum (Ethniki Pinakothiki (Greek: Εθνική Πινακοθήκη)) is an art museum in Athens devoted to modern Greek and European art from the 14th century to the 20th century. ... Icon of the Dormition Dormition of the Virgin redirects here. ...

External links

• National Gallery of Athens
• Nano Hatzidakis: Velimezis Icon Collection

Citations

References

• Brown, Jonathan (1982). "El Greco and Toledo", El Greco of Toledo (catalogue). Little Brown. ASIN B-000H4-58C-Y. 
• Lambraki-Plaka, Marina (1999). El Greco-The Greek. Kastaniotis. ISBN 9-60032-544-8. 
• Mann, Richard G. (2002). "Tradition and Originality in El Greco's Work". "Journal of the Rocky Mountain" 23: 83-110. 
• Panayotakis, Nikolaos M. (1986). ""The Cretan Period of the Life of Doménicos Theotocópoulos", Festschrift In Honor Of Nikos Svoronos, Volume B. Crete University Press.