Kostandin Shpataraku (; 17361767), also commonly known as Shpataraku, was an Albanian Orthodox

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 mos ...

and

fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plast ...

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

of the Post-Byzantine period in the eighteenth century. He continued to combine

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

tradition with influences from the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ide ...

. He is regarded as one of the most prominent figures of medieval

Albanian art Albanian art ( ) refers to all artistic expressions and artworks in Albania or produced by Albanians. The country's art is either work of arts produced by its people and influenced by its culture and traditions. It has preserved its original ele ...

besides

Onufri Onufri Argitis or Onoufrios of Neokastro or Onoufrios Argytes ( el, Ονούφριος) was a 16th century painter of Orthodox icons and Archpriest of Elbasan, active in the 16th century in modern-day southern Albania and in the south-western re ...

and

David Selenica David Selenica (; 17th century18th century), also commonly known as Selenicasi, was an Albanian Orthodox icon and fresco painter of the Post-Byzantine period in the seventeenth century. He is regarded as one of the most prominent figures of med ...

. Kostandin Shpataraku was born in the Shpat region within the surrounding region of

Elbasan Elbasan ( ; sq-definite, Elbasani ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in central ...

, which was at that time part of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...

. He was beheaded by the Ottomans in Elbasan whereby his family took his body and buried him in his village, head apart from the rest of the body, so the Ottomans could not find his exact grave. A small

chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common type ...

was built subsequently to commemorate him. He is also commemorated as a

saint In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Catholic, Eastern Or ...

by the locals on September 21.Tomb and works of Kostandin Shpataraku (in Albanian)
/ref> His art and legacy was distinguished by his

miniature A miniature is a small-scale reproduction, or a small version. It may refer to: * Portrait miniature, a miniature portrait painting * Miniature art, miniature painting, engraving and sculpture * Miniature (chess), a masterful chess game or proble ...

s by introducing elements from everyday life in

visual art The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts ...

. His artistic work is represented by a collection of icons and frescoes for example inside the

Ardenica Monastery The Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Ardenica ( sq, Manastiri Lindja e Hyjlindëses Mari,; or simply Ardenica Monastery ( sq, Manastiri i Ardenices) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, located 18 kilometers south of Lushnjë, Albania, a ...

and St. Jovan Vladimir's Church. Many of his works belong to private collections. Several works have been collected and restored and are nowadays on display at the

National Museum of Medieval Art The National Museum of Medieval Art ( sq, Muzeu Kombëtar i Artit Mesjetar) is a national museum dedicated to medieval art and history in Korçë, Albania. The museum is located on Fan Noli Boulevard in the south-east of the city of Korçë. It wa ...

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau som ...

, National Iconographic Museum in

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and east of Fier. Berat is located in ...

and other museums. In 2010, an icon painting attributed to him was sold to Hetem Ramadani for 75,000 euros at a charity ball hosted by

Liri Berisha Liri Berisha (; born 5 July 1948) is an Albanian pediatrician and president of the Albanian Children Foundation, and also a UNICEF ambassador. She is the wife of Sali Berisha, the former President and Prime Minister of Albania, with whom she has ...

, wife of the Albanian premier. The icon had formerly been in the ownership of the family of the modern painter Alush Shima.Albania Struggles to Catalogue its Unknown Treasures.
''BalkanInsight'', 30 October 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2015.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shpataraku, Kostandin 1736 births 1767 deaths Albanian male painters 18th-century Albanian painters People from Elbasan Eastern_Orthodox_Christians_from_Albania

See also

References