Ιoannis Apakas ( el, Ιωάννης Απακάς, mid 1500s - early 1600s), also known as Johann Apakass was a Greek painter and priest. He was active in the latter part of the 16th century to the early 17th century. He was popular artist during his time. His work resembles the Cretan School with a significant Venetian influence which evolved into the Heptanese School. His works mostly resemble

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 ...

, Georgios Klontzas and

Leos Moskos Leo or Leos Moskos ( el, Λέος Μόσκος, 1620/30 – 1690) was a painter and educator. There were two other painters named Moskos active around the same period, Elias Moskos and Ioannis Moskos, who may have been his relatives. Indeed, L ...

. Some of his works resemble Victor of Crete,

Elias Moskos Ilias or Elias Moskos ( el, Ηλίας Μόσκος, 1620/1629- January 26, 1687) was a Greek educator, shipping merchant and painter from Crete. The last name Moskos was associated with three famous painters of the Cretan School alive during the ...

. His style evolved from the maniera greca to a more refined painting style resembling the Cretan School. Many of his works survived and are featured in public foundations, private collections, churches and monasteries all over the world namely Greece. His most notable work is ''Ignatius of Antioch''. The lions have been used in countless paintings by different artists representing the Cretan School. Ten of his paintings have survived.

History

Apakas was born in Heraklion in the Republic of Venice. 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 el, Φιλόθεος Σκούφος also known as Filotheos Skoufos. Philotheos was a Greek painter, educator and clergyman during the 17th century. He collaborated with Emmanuel Tzanes on several pieces while he was in Corfu ...

. 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

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 ...

. He began to refine the traditional maniera greca of the Cretan School 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 Georgios Klontzas and

. Another common theme between Apakas,

and

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 people 17th-century Greek painters People from Heraklion 16th-century Greek painters 16th-century Greek people Greek Renaissance humanists