Euphrosynos ( el, Ευφρόσυνος, ) was a Greek Renaissance painter. He was a priest and influenced by

Byzantine art Byzantine art comprises the body of Christian Greek artistic products of the Eastern Roman Empire, as well as the nations and states that inherited culturally from the empire. Though the empire itself emerged from the decline of Rome and lasted ...

and the early

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 ...

. Five of his works have survived, all of them are in Greece. His technique resembled the works of

Andreas Pavias Andreas Pavias ( el, Ανδρέας Παβίας 1440-1504/1512) was a Greek painter and educator. He was one of the founding fathers of the Cretan School, and his works influenced countless artists both Italian and Greek; paintings by Pavias coul ...

Angelos Akotantos Angelos Akotantos (Greek: Άγγελος Ακοτάντος 1390-1457) was a Greek painter, educator, and protopsaltis. He painted in the Byzantine style or maniera greca. He represented the transition from the Byzantine style of painting to the ...

, and

Andreas Ritzos Andreas Ritzos ( el, Ανδρέας Ρίτζος 1421-1492) also known as (Rico, Ricio, Rizo). He was a Greek icon painter, from Crete. Ritzos is considered one of the founding fathers of the Cretan School. He was affiliated with Angelos Akota ...

. Euphrosynos may have been a member of the prominent Klontzas family. His paintings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus are typical

paintings. His Jesus painting resembles Pavias's painting ''Christ Pantocrator''. All of his works are at Mount Athos in the Dionysiou Monastery. They decorate the iconostasis.

Fragkos Katelanos Fragkos Katelanos ( el, Φράγγος Κατελλάνος, 1510/20 - 1590) was a Greek painter. He specialized in icon and fresco-painting. His work resembles the Byzantine style of painting with attributes of the Cretan School. His work co ...

and

Theophanes the Cretan 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 icons and frescos in the style of the Creta ...

were also working at

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the peni ...

around the same period.

History

Euphrosynos was born in Crete sometime in the 16th century. He was a priest. The only information regarding his life remains in five icons. His icons are in the Dionysiou Monastery,

, Greece. His style resembles

. There are rumors within the historical community that he was a member of the Klontzas family. In 1567, a priest is mentioned by the name Euphrosynos Klontzas. Regrettably, there is no record indicating that Euphrosynos Klontzas was a painter. His paintings resemble the typical

Michael Damaskinos Michael Damaskenos or Michail Damaskenos ( el, Μιχαήλ Δαμασκηνός, 1530/35–1592/93) was a leading post-Byzantine Cretan painter. He is a major representative of the Cretan School of painting that flourished in the 16th and ...

was also active in Crete around the same period. Euphrosynos's paintings are dated around 1542. They are of ''Jesus'', ''the Virgin Mary'', ''John the Baptist'', ''Peters'', and ''Paul''. His signature was Γραφέος θύτου τεΰξεν χείρ ταπεινού Ευφρόσυνου.

Gallery

File:Euphrosinos,_Dyonisiou,_St._Peter.jpg, St. Peter File:Euphrosinos, Dyonisiou, Virgin Mary.jpg, The Virgin Mary File:Euphrosinos, Dyonisiou, Jesus Christ Pantocrator.jpg, Jesus Christ Pantocrator File:Euphrosinos, Dyonisiou, St. John the Baptist.jpg, St. John the Baptist File:Euphrosinos, Dyonisiou, St. Paul.jpg, St. Paul

References

{{Cretan Renaissance Cretan Renaissance painters People from Crete 16th-century Greek painters