Leonidas Drosis ( el, Λεωνίδας Δρόσης; (1834/1836/1843 - 1882)) was a Greek
neoclassical sculptor of the 19th century.
Born in
Nafplion
Nafplio ( ell, Ναύπλιο) is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece and it is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis and an important touristic destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in the ...
, to a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
father named Von Dorsch and 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 ...
mother named Meksi, however he took the surname Drosis. He later studied in
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
and
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
on a scholarship provided by
Simon Sinas
Simon von Sina or Simon Sinas ( el, Σίμων Σίνας; 1810–1876) was a Greece, Greek-Austrian banker, aristocrat, benefactor and diplomat. He was one of the most important benefactors of the Greek nation together with Georgios Sinas.
Biogr ...
.
Drosis's major work is the extensive neo-classical architectural ornament at the
Academy of Athens, for the Danish-Austrian architect
Theophil Hansen
Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen (; original Danish name: Theophilus Hansen ; 13 July 1813 – 17 February 1891) was a Danish architect who later became an Austrian citizen. He became particularly well known for his buildings and structures in A ...
. The Academy was also funded largely by Sinas. Drosis sculpted the principle multi-figure
pediment
Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape.
Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds.
A pedimen ...
sculpture, on the theme of the birth of Athena, based on a design by painter
Carl Rahl
Carl Rahl, sometimes spelled Karl Rahl (13 August 1812 – 9 July 1865), was an Austrian painter.
Life
Rahl was born in Vienna to Carl Heinrich Rahl (1779–1843), an engraver. He attended the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and won a prize at ...
. This brought first prize at the
Vienna Exhibition of 1873. Drosis is also responsible for the figures of Athena and Apollo with lyre on the Academy's flanking pillars, and the seated marble figures of Plato and Socrates, which were executed "by the Italian sculptor Piccarelli". (The eight smaller pediments in the Academy complex are the terra-cotta work of Austrian sculptor
Franz Melnitzky
Franz Melnitzky (13 November 1822, Krasíkov – 1 February 1876, Vienna) was an Austrian sculptor.
Life and work
His father was a stonemason, and he was originally trained for the same profession. After deciding to become a sculptor, he we ...
.)
[''Neoclassical Architecture in Greece'', by Mānos G. Bīris, Márō Kardamítsī-Adámī, page 142]
Drosis died in
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
.
Gallery
File:Père-Lachaise - Division 8 - Boime-Simon 03.jpg, Tomb of Eugénie Boime-Simon
File:Irini Maurokordatou by Leonidas Drosis.jpg, Irini Mavrokordatou
File:Eule by Leonidas Drosis.jpg, Owl
File:The statue of Ioannis Varvakis (Ivan Andreevich Varvatsi) in Athens.jpg, Ioannis Varvakis
File:Penelopedrosis.jpg, Penelope
File:Monument Ypsilanti.jpg, Ipsilanti Monument
File:Socrates by Leonidas Drosis, Athens - Academy of Athens.JPG, Socrates Academy of Athens
File:Σωκράτης, Ακαδημία Αθηνών 6616.jpg, Socrates Academy of Athens
File:Πλάτωνας, Ακαδημία Αθηνών 6619.JPG, Plato Academy of Athens
File:Athena - Leonidas Drosis.JPG, Sketch of Athena
File:Κίονας Αθηνάς - Ακαδημία Αθηνών 1186.jpg, Athena w/ Ionic Column
File:Athena column-Academy of Athens.jpg, Athena Side View w/ Sphere
File:Κίονας Αθηνάς - Ακαδημία Αθηνών 1223.JPG, Athena Front View
File:Apollo - Leonidas Drosis.JPG, Sketch of Apollo
File:0775 - Athens - Akadimia - Apollo column - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 11 2009.jpg, Apollo Full View Academy of Athens
File:0777 - Athens - Akadimia - Apollo column - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 11 2009.jpg, Apollo Half View Academy of Athens
File:Κίονας Απόλλωνα - Ακαδημία Αθηνών 1201-2.jpg, Apollo Close Up w/ Ionic Column
File:Κίονας Απόλλωνα - Ακαδημία Αθηνών 3 crop.jpg, Apollo Close Up of Statue
References
External links
*
1882 deaths
Architectural sculptors
Greek sculptors
19th-century Greek sculptors
People from Nafplion
Year of birth uncertain
{{Greece-bio-stub