''Lady the Lambovitissa'' is a tempera painting by

Emmanuel Tzanes Emmanuel Tzanes ( el, Εμμανουήλ Τζάνες, 1610 – 28 March 1690), also known as Bounialis ( el, Μπουνιαλής) Emmanuel Tzane-Bounialis, Emmanuel Zane, and Emmanuel Tzane. He was a Greek Renaissance painter. He was an a ...

. Tzanes was a Greek painter active from 1625 to 1690. His artistic periods can be broken into three parts. The Cretan Period (1625-1647), The Corfu Period (1647-1655), and the Venetian Period (1655-1690). He was a prominent member of the Late Cretan School. His art was heavily influenced by Greek painter

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 ...

. His brothers Marinos Tzanes and

Konstantinos Tzanes Konstantinos Tzanes ( el, Κωνσταντίνος Τζάνες, 1633 – 1685; also known as Bounialis ( el, Μπουνιαλής) Konstantinos Tzane-Bounialis, Konstantinos Zane, or Konstantinos Tzane) was a Greek Renaissance painter. He ...

were both painters. Tzanes has a massive art collection attributed to him nearing over one hundred thirty works. During the Corfu Period (1647-1655),

and

Emmanuel Immanuel ( he, עִמָּנוּאֵל, 'Īmmānū'ēl, meaning, "God is with us"; also romanized: , ; and or in Koine Greek of the New Testament) is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God will protect the ...

were heavily active. They painted many works on the island. The Virgin and Child enthroned was a popular theme painted by both Greek and Italian Byzantine painters. One of the most famous renditions is in

Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia ( 'Holy Wisdom'; ; ; ), officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque ( tr, Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi), is a mosque and major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Ortho ...

. Cretan Painters adopted the theme.

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 ...

and Andreas Ritzos both have notable versions. ''Lady the Lambovitissa'' was completed 1684.

Konstantinos Konstantinos or Constantinos (Κωνσταντίνος, ''Konstantínos'') is a Greek male given name. * Konstantinos (born 1972), occultist * Konstantinos "Kosta" Barbarouses (born 1990), New Zealand footballer * Konstantinos Chalkias (born ...

also created a similar version of the ''Virgin and Child Enthroned'' in Corfu around 1654. The

version is still in Corfu at the

Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher Cathedral of Saint Jacob and Saint Christopher ( el, Ιερός Καθολικός Μητροπολιτικός Ναός (Duomo) and ( el, Καθεδρικός Ναός Αγίου Χριστοφόρου και Ιακώβου Κέρκυρας)) i ...

. ''Lady the Lambovitissa'' features similarities to the style of Nikolaos Tzafouris. ''Lady the Lambovitissa'' derived its name from the Lambovitissa Monastery in Corfu. The painting is part of the Dionysios Loverdos Collection at the

Byzantine and Christian 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 ...

Description

The materials used for the massive icon were egg tempera paint on wood. The painter also used gold leaf. The painting was completed in 1684. The height is 60.2 in (152.9 cm) and the width is 40.6 in (103.1 cm) exactly five feet tall. The Virgin is seated within a niche. Many painters used the niche in their works. The ''Madonna and Child'' by Filippo Lippi also features a similar shell-like niche behind the Virgin Mary. The Virgin is seated in a niche-like throne in

's painting. The throne is elaborately decorated. Both

and

painted a similar throne. Konstantino's version lacks the shell like niche. In

's version the Theotokos is crowned by a white dove while in Konstantino's version the Theotokos is crowned by two angels.

's angels marvel at the Virgin and Child. The majestic throne features two symmetric decorative round orbs. Above the orbs follow two symmetric corinthian-like columns. The Virgin's heavenly crown is adorned with precious jewels. The Virgin's face is very natural. The child is looking at the viewer. The child holds a banner in his left hand versus the typical scroll prevalent in Cretan paintings. The child is seated on an elaborately decorated pillow. Both the Virgin and Child are dressed in majestic attire. The artist's color palette for the main figures features red, blue, green, and orange. The painter presents luxuriant patterns and brilliant colors. The folds of fabric and shadows are clearly evident.

uses more shadows to provide a sense of realism. The detail in

's work is featured around the Virgin's legs. Brilliant diagonal lines, patterns, and shadows are present. The shadows illustrate a three-dimensional throne. Both brothers elevated the Greek style to another level defining the Late Cretan School.

Gallery

File:Konstantinos Tzanes Virgin and Child.png, Virgin and Child Enthroned

File:Andreas Ritzos - Mother of God Enthroned - WGA19510.jpg, Virgin and Child Enthroned Ritzos File:Madonna and Child (Filippo Lippi).jpg, Virgin and Child inside niche Filippo Lippi File:Nikolaos Tsafouris - The Virgin and St Francis of Assisi - WGA23105.jpg, Virgin and Child Tzafouris

References

{{Emmanuel Tzanes 17th-century paintings Paintings in Greece Cretan Renaissance paintings Paintings by Emmanuel Tzanes Paintings of the Madonna and Child Angels in art Birds in art