15th century Cretan School

our lady of perpetual help, cretan work of 13th or 14th century.



deposition, lamentation , resurrection triptych nikolaos zafouris, c. 1490s (national museum, warsaw).

there substantial demand byzantine icons in europe throughout middle ages and, venetian possession since 1204, crete had natural advantage , came dominate supply. probable example famous icon of virgin in rome known our mother of perpetual help, known in rome 1499. @ date there little distinguish cretan work other byzantine icons stylistically, , quality of work lower associated constantinople.

this period saw considerable numbers of wall-paintings in local churches , monasteries - altogether 850 14th , 15th centuries survive in crete, far more earlier or later periods.

by late 15th century, cretan artists had established distinct icon-painting style, distinguished precise outlines, modelling of flesh dark brown underpaint , dense tiny highlights on cheeks of faces, bright colours in garments, geometrical treatment of drapery, and, balanced articulation of composition , or sharp contours, slim silhouettes, linear draperies , restrained movements . famous artist of period andreas ritzos (c. 1421–1492), son nicholas known. angelos akotantos, until thought conservative painter of 17th century, now, after discovery of dated 1436, seen have been innovative artist in fusing byzantine , western styles, survived until 1457, when registered. interestingly, made in anticipation of voyage constantinople; several icons bequeathed church institutions, catholic orthodox, , disposition of stock of pattern drawings specified. andreas pavias (d. after 1504) , pupil angelos bizamanos, , nicholas tzafuris (d. before 1501) other leading artists.

even before fall of constantinople there evidence leading byzantine artists leaving capital in order settle in crete. migration of byzantine artists crete continued increasingly next years , reached peak after fall of constantinople in 1453, when crete became important centre of art in greek world , influencing artistic developments in rest of greek world. cretan icons commissioned monasteries on mount athos , elsewhere. cretan school had smaller rival; until fell turks in 1522, rhodes had community of artists, not large or significant.

the venetian archives preserve considerable documentation on trade of artistic icons between venice , crete, end of 15th century had become 1 of mass production. there documentation of specific order in 1499, of 700 icons of virgin, 500 in western style, , 200 in byzantine style. order placed 3 artists 2 dealers, 1 venetian , 1 mainland greece, , time between contract date , delivery set @ forty-five days. quality of many such commissioned icons low, , dismissive term madonneri devised describe such bulk painters, later practised in italy also, using quasi-byzantine style, , apparently greek or dalmatian individuals. production of icons @ these levels seems have led glut in market, , in following 2 decades there evidence cretan trade declined significantly, european demand had been reduced. @ top end of market cretan icons finest in byzantine world.