''The Lord Byron reception at Missolonghi ''is an oil painting created by

Theodoros Vryzakis Theodoros Vryzakis ( el, Θεόδωρος Βρυζάκης; 1819–1878) was a Greek painter, known mostly for his historical scenes. He was one of the founders of the "Munich School", composed of Greek artists who had studied in that city. Biog ...

in 1861. It is exhibited at the National Gallery, Athens.

Description

It depicts the arrival of the English philhellene

Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...

at Missolonghi and his welcome. He appears to be coming from the port, accompanied by his friend

Edward John Trelawny Edward John Trelawny (13 November 179213 August 1881) was a British biographer, novelist and adventurer who is best known for his friendship with the Romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. Trelawny was born in England to a family o ...

and numerous soldiers who are cheering. The local authorities and

Alexandros Mavrokordatos Alexandros Mavrokordatos ( el, Αλέξανδρος Μαυροκορδάτος; 11 February 179118 August 1865) was a Greek statesman, diplomat, politician and member of the Mavrocordatos family of Phanariotes. Biography In 1812, Mavrokordato ...

, who had invited him, welcome him.

Analysis

Art historians point to the stiff, lifeless and rigid forms of the figures. Specifically, Stelios Lydakis calls them: "dummies like steel". There are also borrowings from other models, such as the bishop, whose form is a variation of the

Germanos III of Old Patras Germanos III of Old Patras ( el, Παλαιών Πατρών Γερμανός Γʹ; 1771–1826), born Georgios Gotzias, was an Orthodox Metropolitan of Patras. He played an important role in the Greek Revolution of 1821, having diplomatic and ...

Peter von Hess Peter Heinrich Lambert von Hess (29 July 1792 – 4 April 1871) was a German painter, known for historic paintings, especially of the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence. Life Peter von Hess initially received training from his fat ...

. The naive dimension and the folklore of the style and the patterns in this table, also point out the critics: abuse of dress and oplografikis storytelling, theatrical gestures and pompous attitudes. With overt symbolism, the priest behind the bishop keeps a picture of the resurrection of Christ was a symbol of the resurrection of Greece, and in the distance a ruined minaret seems to be showing the expulsion of the Turks. As for Lord Byron is illustrated by way of messiah. It is basically another fable its composition dictated by philhellenic demand issues from the national liberation struggle of the Greeks, to massive acclaim.Αντώνης Κωτίδης, Ελληνική τέχνη. Ζωγραφική του 19ου αιώνα, Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα, 1995, p. 199

References

Sources

* Απόστολος Βακαλόπουλος, «Θεόδωρος Βρυζάκης, ο ζωγράφος της Επαναστάσεως», στο: Οι Έλληνες ζωγράφοι, vol. 1. Από τον 19ο αιώνα στον 20ό, εκδ. Μέλισσα, Αθήνα, 1975, p. 68 * Στέλιος Λυδάκης,«Ο Θεόδωρος Βρυζάκης το έργο και η εποχή του» στο: Οι Έλληνες ζωγράφοι, vol. 1. Από τον 19ο αιώνα στον 20ο, εκδ. Μέλισσα, Αθήνα, 1975, p. 76 * Αντώνης Κωτίδης, Ελληνική τέχνη. Ζωγραφική του 19ου αιώνα, Εκδοτική Αθηνών, Αθήνα, 1995, p. 61, 198-199 * Στέλιος Λυδάκης, «Η ομάδα του Μονάχου-Η σχολή του Μονάχου» στο: Οι Έλληνες ζωγράφοι, vol. 3, εκδ. Μέλισσα, Αθήνα, 1976, p.130 * Δημήτρης Παυλόπουλος, «Ο Βύρων στην νεοελληνική τέχνη» στο Επτά Ημέρες της Καθημερινής, (25-26 Μαρτίου 2000), p. 24-26 {{DEFAULTSORT:Reception Of Lord Byron At Missolonghi 1861 paintings Lord Byron Missolonghi Paintings about the Greek War of Independence Paintings in Greece