Konstantinos Kontarinis ( el, Κωνσταντίνος Κονταρίνης, 1679 – 1738), also known as Konstantino Kontarini, was a Greek Baroque painter of the Heptanese School. He was heavily influenced by the works of

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 ...

. His contemporaries at the time were Stephano Tzangarola and

Panagiotis Doxaras Panagiotis Doxaras ( el, Παναγιώτης Δοξαράς) (1662–1729) also known as Panayiotis Doxaras, was an author and painter. He was a prolific member of the Heptanese School. He was influenced by early members of the movement name ...

. His work signals a transition for the Cretan School to the more refined Heptanese School. Kontarinis clearly follows the traditional maniera greca. The art was heavily influenced by the

Venetian style Venetian Gothic is the particular form of Italian Gothic architecture typical of Venice, originating in local building requirements, with some influence from Byzantine architecture, and some from Islamic architecture, reflecting Venice's tradin ...

. He influenced the works of countless Greek and Italian painters namely Spyridon Sperantzas and

Nikolaos Kallergis Nikolaos Kallergis ( el, Νικόλαος Καλλέργης, 1699 – 1747), also known as Kalergis. He was a Greek painter during the Greek Rococo and the Modern Greek Enlightenment in art also known as Neo-Hellenikos Diafotismos. His ar ...

. According to the Institute of Neohellenic Research, eighty-five of his works survived. His most notable work is the portable icon consisting of ''Scenes from Genesis''. It is featured at the

Byzantine Museum The Byzantine and Christian Museum ( el, Βυζαντινό και Χριστιανικό Μουσείο, links=no) is situated at Vassilissis Sofias Avenue in Athens, Greece. It was founded in 1914, and houses more than 25,000 exhibits with rare ...

Athens, Greece.

History

Kontarinis was born on the island of Corfu. His family migrated from Rethymno, Crete. The family was featured in the works of Marinos Tzanes. Not much is known about his life. He was married. He had a son named Nicholas. He is mentioned in the archives of Corfu around 1715. He traveled around the Ionian Islands. By the 1730s he was in Lefkada. He was recorded on October 14, 1731. He was a witness. His work was heavily influenced by

, he was another Greek painter associated with the island of Corfu. Both of the artists are representatives of the Heptanese School Kontarinis is among a unique class of Greek painters. He allowed patrons to be featured in his works. One such instance was Saint Lucian's Miracle, the Saving of Spyridon Voulgaris. Clearly, Voulgaris is the feature of the work. Stephanos Tzangarolas also employs a similar technique. He featured Bernardo (Vernardo) Aninou in his Virgin Glykofilousa.

Franghias Kavertzas Frantzeskos or Franghias Kavertzas ( el, Φραντζέσκος Καβερτζάς, 1590/1600-1648) was a Greek painter. His painting style resembles the late Cretan School or early Greek Baroque period. His work was influenced by Georgios Klo ...

featured a nun named Evgenia Trapezontiopoulla at the bottom of his Last Judgment. She was also the patron of the masterpiece. Another impressive painting by Kontarinis ''Saint Alexander and Scenes of Martyrdom'' features a Camel. Greek painter Konstantinos Kontaris is often confused with Kontarinis due to the similarity of their names. Some theories evolved that Kontaris is Kontarinis. There is considerable debate regarding Kontarinis masterpiece ''Descent from the Cross''.

Gallery

File:Konstantinos Kontarinis The Allegory of the Holy Communion.png, The Allegory of the Holy Communion File:Konstantinos Kontarinis Adam and Eve.png, Adam and Eve File:Konstantinos Kontarinis Descent from the Cross.png, Circle of Kontarinis Descent from the Cross File:Scenes from Genesis by Konstantinos Kontarinis (Byzantine museum).jpg, Scenes from Genesis File:S. Alexander by Konstantinos Kontarinis.jpg, Saint Alexander and Scenes of Martyrdom

Notable works

*Alypius ''Private Collection Kölliken Switzerland'' *Entrance of the Virgin (ΘΚ), ''Noether Collection Mannheim, Germany''

References

Works cited

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External links