Andreas Ritzos ( el, Ανδρέας Ρίτζος 1421-1492) also known as (Rico, Ricio, Rizo). He was a

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

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 ...

painter, from

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

. Ritzos is considered one of the founding fathers 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, becom ...

. He was affiliated with

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

. Most of his work stylistically follows the traditional

maniera greca Italo-Byzantine is a style term in art history, mostly used for medieval paintings produced in Italy under heavy influence from Byzantine art. It initially covers religious paintings copying or imitating the standard Byzantine icon types, but pa ...

. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were also painters. He was one of the most influential painters of the

along with

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 co ...

and

. He influenced the works of

Georgios Klontzas Georgios Klontzas ( el, Γεώργιος Κλώντζας, 1535-1608) also known as George Klontzas and Zorzi Cloza dito Cristianopullo. He was a scholar, painter, and manuscript illuminator. He is one of the most influential artists of the post-B ...

Nikolaos Tzafouris Nikolaos Tzafouris ( el, Νικόλαος Ζαφούρης η Τζαφούρης; 1468–1501), also Niccolo, Niccolò, Niccolö, Zafuri, Zafuris, was a Greek Renaissance painter. He was one of the founders of the Cretan School. He was influenc ...

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 Cretan ...

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 1 ...

and

El Greco Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos ( el, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco ("The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El G ...

. According to the Institute for Neohellenic Research, sixty of his paintings have survived.

Biography

Andreas Ritzos was born in

Iraklio 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 ...

. His father Nicholas Ritzo was a seaman and jeweler, and his mother was lady Ergina. Andreas married Maria and had two sons. His son Nicholas was a painter. His other son Thomas was a jeweler and painter. Andreas is listed as a painter for the first time on July 27, 1451 as Andreas Ritzos pinctor. Records indicate that in 1454 his coworker Maneas Theologitis vouched for him. Documents indicate he was active as a painter between 1460 and 1492. He was also associated with other painters namely George Pelergi and Ioanni Kappadoka. In one document he testifies to the delivery of items from

John Akatanos John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

and in another, he received a loan from

. His wife Maria died around 1482. He split the inheritance with his son Nicholas. His second marriage was with Nicola Gritti of Agnese. He signed his paintings three different ways. Five of his icons were signed in Greek χείρ Ανδρέα Ρέτζου, Three were signed Andreas Rico de Candia pinxit and finally one was signed Andreas Ricio de Candia. Stathi, 2007, p. 18-21 His grandson was painter Maneas Ritzos. A significant amount of Madonna and Child paintings by Andreas Ritzos survived. Many painters chose the subject matter but

Duccio Duccio di Buoninsegna ( , ; – ) was an Italian painter active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th century. He was hired throughout his life to complete many important works in government and religious buildings around Italy. Ducc ...

Cimabue Cimabue (; ; – 1302), Translated with an introduction and notes by J.C. and P Bondanella. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Oxford World’s Classics), 1991, pp. 7–14. . also known as Cenni di Pepo or Cenni di Pepi, was an Italian painter a ...

Fra Angelico Fra Angelico (born Guido di Pietro; February 18, 1455) was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance, described by Vasari in his '' Lives of the Artists'' as having "a rare and perfect talent".Giorgio Vasari, ''Lives of the Artists''. Pengu ...

, and

Giotto di Bondone Giotto di Bondone (; – January 8, 1337), known mononymously as Giotto ( , ) and Latinised as Giottus, was an Italian painter and architect from Florence during the Late Middle Ages. He worked during the Gothic/Proto-Renaissance period. Giot ...

employed a similar mannerism exemplifying the

. Most artists of the

began to employ some attributes of the Venetian school. One greek artist of Venice

Ioannis Permeniates Ioannis Permeniates ( el, Ιωάννης Περμενιάτης, ?-1550) also known as Giovanni Permeniate, Joannes Permeniates and, Zuan Permeniatis. He was a Greek painter in Venice active during the early 16th century. His most popular paint ...

completely adopted a new style of painting which was in line with the Venetian school. Ritzos popularity shows that both Italian and Greek patrons continued to value the

and preferred the traditional style. Many paintings were attributed to the school of Ritzos because they were not signed and resemble the artist's painting style. There were countless Madonna and Child paintings for comparison.

influenced

and Andreas Ritzos.

and Ritzos influenced each other both employ the traditional rich gold background but Pavias began to employ the Venetian school. The ''Virgin and Child with Crucifixion Narrative'' and the ''Ascension of Christ'' in the gallery are precursors to

and

Theodore Poulakis Theodore Poulakis ( el, Θεόδωρος Πουλάκης; 1622–1692) was a Greek Renaissance painter and teacher. He is considered the father of the Heptanese School and one of the most prolific painters of Venetian Crete. Poulakis was a me ...

''All Creation rejoices in Thee.''

''Crucifixion of Jesus'' is another popular work that influenced

and

''All Creation rejoices in Thee.'' Ritzos ''Ascension of Christ'' separates the scenes into different compartments while

''Crucifixion of Jesus'' utilizes countless figures.

''Transfiguration and Monastic Scenes'' 1603, is similar to Ritzos ''Acension of Christ''.

Gallery

File:Virgin of the Passion, by Andrea Rico di Candia, Cretan, 1451-1492, tempera on wood panel - Princeton University Art Museum - DSC06640.jpg, Mother and Child File:Andreas Ritzos - The Mother of God Enthroned - WGA19509.jpg, The Mother of God Enthroned File:Andreas Ritzos - Mother of God Enthroned - WGA19510.jpg, The Mother of God Enthroned File:Ritzos Andreas - The Virgin and Child enthroned - Google Art Project (721008).jpg, The Virgin and Child with Crucifixion Narrative File:Andreas Ritzos - The Dormition of the Virgin - WGA19508.jpg, The Dormition of the Virgin File:Ritzos Andreas - The Virgin and Child enthroned - Google Art Project.jpg, Triptych Left to Right, Saint Nicholas with Saints, Virgin and Child, Saint Nicholas with Saints File:Jesus Hominum Salvator by Andreas Ritzos (Byzantine museum).jpg, Crucifixion and Resurrection Scenes within a Christogram File:Andreas Ritzos - Icon- Ascension of Christ with the Hetoimasia - Google Art Project.jpg, Ascension of Christ File:St. John the Theologian (3443916347).jpg, Saint John the Theologian File:Ritzos Andreas - Two scenes from the life of St John the Divine - Google Art Project.jpg, Scene from the Life of St John the Divine

Italian Style

File:Dormition of Mary with Francis and Dominic (School of Andreas Ritzos, 15 c.) 01.jpg, Dormition of Mary with Francis and Dominic File:Madonna con Bambino in trono by Andreos Ritzos - Hermitage.jpg, Madonna with Saints

References

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 Ritzos {{DEFAULTSORT:Ritzos, Andreas Greek painters Cretan Renaissance painters 1492 deaths 1421 births Artists from Heraklion 15th-century Greek people 15th-century Greek painters

Biography

Gallery

Italian Style

See also

References

External links