Theophanis Strelitzas ( el, Θεοφάνης Στρελίτζας 1490–1559), also known as Theophanes the Cretan (, pronounced ''Theophanes O Krees'') or Theophanes Bathas () was a Greek painter of

icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most ...

s and frescos in the style of the

Cretan School Cretan School describes an important school of icon painting, under the umbrella of post-Byzantine art, which flourished while Crete was under Venetian rule during the late Middle Ages, reaching its climax after the Fall of Constantinople, becomi ...

. He passed much of his career as a member of the

monastic community of Mount Athos The monastic community of Mount Athos is an Eastern Orthodox community of monks in Greece, enjoying the status of an autonomous region holding the combined rights of a decentralized administration, a region and a municipality, with its territo ...

. Theophanes was part of the artistically prolific Strelitzas-Bathas family, whose members have left over one hundred extant works distributed throughout Greece. His work influenced many later painters, including Fragkos Katelanos and

Dionysius of Fourna Dionysius of Fourna ( el, Διονύσιος ο εκ Φουρνά; c. 1670 – after 1744) was an author, educator, painter, and monk. He was one of the most influential painters of the 18th century. He was a monk on the isolated self-autonomous ...

. Theophanes's son and apprentice Symeon Bathas Strelitzas later became a professional painter in his own right.

History

Theophanes was born in

Heraklion Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban Ar ...

, Crete. His family, which originated in the Peloponnesus region, had been associated with painting for over a century. He was married and had two sons, Symeon and Nifos-Neophytos. Sometime before 1527 his wife died young and the family moved to Mount Athos, where Theophanes and his sons became monks and worked as painters. Theophanes's work was sufficiently esteemed that he received a commission in the

Great Lavra The Monastery of Great Lavra ( el, Μονή Μεγίστης Λαύρας) is the first monastery built on Mount Athos. It is located on the southeastern foot of the Mount at an elevation of . The founding of the monastery in AD 963 by Athanasi ...

, the largest monastery at Mount Athos. He painted frescos in the main building of the complex, a Byzantine church dating back to 1004. The signature of Theophanes can be found in many parts of the building. In 1536, Theophanes purchased a seat in Great Lavra Monastery for himself and his sons. He made an additional payment in 1540 and received a better location, with a vineyard and orchard. When his children were old enough he purchased the right for them to stay at the monastery with him. He also paid for his funeral in advance. Three years later Theophanes settled in

Karyes Karyes (Greek: Καρυές, before 1930: Αράχωβα - ''Arachova'') is a village of the Peloponnese peninsula, which is located in the southern part of Greece. The Peloponnese is made up of a number of states and Karyes belongs to the state ...

, the administrative and commercial center of Mount Athos. He exchanged some of his property for a ''pyrgos'', or tower, and meadows with orchards. Historians believe that Theophanes traveled back and forth to Heraklion, and that he worked as a painter in the

Meteora The Meteora (; el, Μετέωρα, ) is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos.Sofianos, D.Z.: "Metéora" ...

monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapausas and in the Chrysostomou Monastery of Cyprus. By 1552, records indicate he was in Heraklion. He died on February 24, 1559, having amassed a sizable fortune; his will, recorded the same day as his death, gave his two children silver, apartments in Heraklion, gold

ducats The ducat () coin was used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages from the 13th to 19th centuries. Its most familiar version, the gold ducat or sequin containing around of 98.6% fine gold, originated in Venice in 1284 and gained ...

, and other gold coins dating back to the Byzantine Empire. The Bathas family was very important in the world of icon painting. The sons of Theophanes continued his legacy. Other relatives active around his lifetime were Markos Bathas, George Bathas, and

Thomas Bathas Thomas Bathas ( el, Θωμάς Μπαθάς, 1554 – 1599; also known as Tomios or Tomio, Batta Tornio) was a Greek painter, educator, and Vikar. He employed the maniera greca in some of his work but he also broke from tradition by employi ...

, the last of whom participated in the decoration of the Venetian church of

San Giorgio dei Greci San Giorgio dei Greci ( el, Ἅγιος Γεώργιος τῶν Ἑλλήνων, ´Agios Geórgios ton Ellínon, Saint George of the Greeks) is a church in the ''sestiere'' (neighborhood) of Castello, Venice, northern Italy. It was the center of ...

. Hatzidakis, 1997, pp 380-381

Notable works

Frescos

Narthex The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex ...

of the monastery of '' Agios Nikolaos,

'' * Stavronikita Monastery, '' Mount Athos'' *The

Monastery, ''Mount Athos''

Icon paintings

*Icon of Jesus, ''Katholikon, the Great Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos'' *Icon of Virgin Mary, ''Katholikon, the Great Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos'' *11 Icons of the Dodekáorto (Twelve feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church), ''Katholikon, the Great Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos''

Gallery

File:Apostle Peter - Stavronikita monastery, Mt Athos - Theophanes of Crete, 16th c..jpg, ''Apostle Peter - Stavronikita monastery, Mt Athos'' File:Saint Paul in Holy Stavronikita Monastery.jpg, Saint Paul 1546 File:Jesus in Golgotha by Theophanes the Cretan.jpg, Jesus in Golgotha File:Crucifixion by Theophanes the Cretan.jpg, Crucifixion File:Nikolaos3.png, Virgin and Child File:Theophanes the Cretan - The Ascension - WGA22198.jpg, The Ascension 1546 File:Adam naming the animals - St. Nicholas Anapavsa Monstery, Meteora - Theophanes of Crete, 16th c..jpg, Adam naming the animals File:The Burial Lamentations by Theophanes the Cretan.jpg, Epitaphios (''

Lamentation of Christ The Lamentation of Christ is a very common subject in Christian art from the High Middle Ages to the Baroque. After Jesus was crucified, his body was removed from the cross and his friends mourned over his body. This event has been depicted by m ...

'') from Stavronikita monastery, Mount Athos. File:Last Supper by Theophanes the Cretan.jpg, ''

Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art have been undertaken by artistic masters for centuries, ...

'', also from Stavronikita. Western influence is more apparent here, in the figures of the apostles especially. File:Jésus et la Samaritaine. Fresque parTheophanes le Crétois, Monastère de Stavronikita, Mont Athos, 16e siècle..jpg, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman File:Saint Justin Martyr by Theophanes the Cretan.jpg, Saint Justin File:Jesus before Pontius Pilate - Stavronikita monastery, Mt Athos - Theophanes of Crete, 16th c..jpg, Jesus before Pontius Pilate File:Christ born - Stavronikita monastery, Mt Athos - Theophanes of Crete, 16th c..jpg, The Nativity Story File:Prophet Ezekiel - Pantokrator monastery, Mt Athos - Theophanes of Crete 16th c..jpg, Prophet Ezekiel File:Washing of the feet - Stavronikita monastery, Mt Athos - Theophanes of Crete, 16th c..jpg, Washing of the feet File:St. John, St. Theophanios, St. Theodosios - Stavronikita monastery, Mt Athos - Theophanes of Crete, 16th c..jpg, St. John

References

Bibliography

* * *

External links

Byzantium: faith and power (1261-1557)
an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Theophanes the Cretan *

{{Authority control 1559 deaths Greek Christian monks Cretan Renaissance painters Year of birth unknown Artists from Heraklion Fresco painters Greek icon painters 16th-century Greek people 16th-century Greek painters People associated with Great Lavra