Ιoannis Apakas (; mid 1500s – early 1600s), also known as Johann Apakass, was a Greek painter and priest, active in the later 16th and early 17th centuries. The Italo-Byzantine style of his first paintings evolved under the influence of more refined works by

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, beco ...

and Venetian artists. In his maturity, Apakas showed stylistic affinities with Michael Damaskinos,

Georgios Klontzas Georgios Klontzas (; 1535–1608), also known as George Klontzas or Zorzi Cloza dito Cristianopullo, was a Greek scholar and painter of the Cretan school, Cretan Renaissance. He is one of the most influential artists of the post-Byzantine period, ...

, Victor of Crete and Leos and Elias Moskos. Apakas was a popular artist in his day. Ten of his paintings have survived, and are featured in public foundations, private collections, churches and monasteries, mostly in Greece. His most notable work is ''Ignatius of Antioch'', whose lions were emulated by many subsequent Cretan School artists.

History

Apakas was born in

Heraklion Heraklion or Herakleion ( ; , , ), sometimes Iraklion, is the largest city and the administrative capital city, capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion (regional unit), Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in G ...

in the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

. He was a priest and a painter. Not much is known about his life. He continued painting. Artists resembling his work were

Philotheos Skoufos Philotheos Skoufos (also Filotheos; ; between 1615 and 1625 – 1685) was a Greeks, Greek painter, educator and clergyman during the 17th century. He collaborated with Emmanuel Tzanes on several pieces while he was in Corfu. Philotheos was a ...

, Elias Moskos. A large amount of his art still exists today. He signed most of his work Χειρ ιερέως Ιωάννου. He is one of the forerunners of the Heptanese school. His works are in the same category as Michael Damaskinos and Theodore Poulakis. He began to refine the traditional maniera greca of the

leading the art movement into the Heptanese school. Many of his paintings are located in Greece. He also painted the ''Last Judgement.'' A theme that was painted by

and Leos Moskos. Another common theme between Apakas, Theodore Poulakis and Elias Moskos was the ''Tree of Jesse.'' with Jesus or the Virgin

Gallery

File:Descent from the Cross, poss. by Johann Apakass (Macedonia, 18 c., Pushkin museum).jpg, Descent from the Cross File:Ignatius of Antiochie, poss. by Johann Apakass (17th c., Pushkin museum).jpg, Ignatius of Antioch File:Praises of the Theotokos, Circle of Ioannis Apakas (c. 1600, Pushkin museum) 01.jpg, Tree of Jesse File:Theodore of Amasea, poss. by Johann Apakass (17th c., Pushkin museum).jpg, Theodore of Amasea

Notable works

*The Second Coming ''Greek Institute Venice, Italy'' *Deesis with Christ, St Andrew and St Paraskevi ''Ioannis Theologos Monastery Patmos, Greece'' *The Descent from the Cross ''Katholikon of Lavra Monastery Mount Athos, Greece''

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Apakas, Ioannis Cretan Renaissance painters 17th-century Greek painters People from Heraklion 16th-century Greek painters Greek Renaissance humanists