Nikolaos Kantounis or Kandounis (Greek: Νικόλαος Καντούνης; 1767–1834) 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 ...

priest, painter and teacher who did not follow 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 teacher was the famous painter

Nikolaos Koutouzis Nikolaos Koutouzis, or Koutousis (Greek: Νικόλαος Κουτούζης; 17411813) was a Greek painter, poet and priest. He was part of the Heptanese School (painting), Heptanese School, but also a member of the Modern Greek Enlightenment in ...

. He began to incorporate the Maniera Italiana into the Heptanese School. Kantounis,

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 ...

Nikolaos Doxaras Nikolaos Doxaras ( el, Νικόλαος Δοξαράς; 1706/10 – 2 March 1775). He was a Greek painter and teacher. His father was famous painter Panagiotis Doxaras. Panagiotis Doxaras was the father of the Greek Rococo and the Modern Greek ...

and Koutouzis were all prolific members of that school. Kantounis was one of the most important painters in the Neoclassical Period in Greece. He was a representative of the middle to late

Modern Greek Enlightenment The Modern Greek Enlightenment ( el, Διαφωτισμός, ''Diafotismos'', "enlightenment," "illumination"; also known as the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment) was the Greek expression of the Age of Enlightenment. Origins The Greek Enlightenment w ...

in Greek art. Over 164 of his paintings have survived. He is known for painting many portraits. Some of his works resemble the style of

. He was also a member of the secret organization for Greek Independence called the

Filiki Eteria Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends ( el, Φιλικὴ Ἑταιρεία ''or'' ) was a secret organization founded in 1814 in Odessa, whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman rule of Greece and establish an independent Greek ...

Biography

Nikolaos Kantounis - Greek priest - 18th century

He was born in Zakynthos to a very wealthy and educated family. Records indicate Nikolaos was baptized on January 28, 1768. His father, Ioannis, was a doctor and a famous poet. His first teacher was the Greek poet . The Greek painter, Ioannis Korais, provided his first art lessons. He also worked in the studios of

, who is rumored to have expelled him out of jealousy.Brief biography
@ the

National Gallery of Greece The National Gallery ( el, Εθνική Πινακοθήκη, ''Ethniki Pinakothiki'') is an art museum located on Vasilissis Sofias avenue in the Pangrati district, Athens, Greece. It is devoted to Greek and European art from the 14th century ...

. He would later claim to be largely self-taught. His style was influenced by both

and

. In 1786, he was ordained a priest and took a position at the church of Evangelistria in Zakynthos. By 1803, he had been hired by the executive committee of Agia Paraskevi church in Zakynthos to paint 12 icons depicting theological stories. Many of his church decorations have been destroyed by earthquakes. He was a member of the secret Greek society

(Society of Friends); a group dedicated to overthrowing Ottoman rule. In 1821, he was exiled by the British because of his subversive activities. They sent him to the island of Kyra, near

Cephalonia Kefalonia or Cephalonia ( el, Κεφαλονιά), formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the 6th largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It i ...

. While he was there he painted a version of the

Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art have been undertaken by artistic masters for centuries, ...

. He was not able to return home until after the recognition of

Greek Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...

in 1832. In 1823, he was honored with the rank of Grand

Sakellarios A ''sakellarios'' ( el, σακελλάριος) or ''sacellarius'' is the title of an official entrusted with administrative and financial duties (cf. ''sakellē'' or ''sakellion'', "purse, treasury") in a government or institution. The title was ...

and, in 1825, he was mentioned in the codex of Saint Catherine of Siena in Zakynthos. Records indicate he was paid 100

thaler A thaler (; also taler, from german: Taler) is one of the large silver coins minted in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy during the Early Modern period. A ''thaler'' size silver coin has a diameter of ...

s to create paintings for the church. He died on April 25, 1834. He was about 66 years old and left a detailed will, which had interesting information about his life and property. Some of his students were the famous Greek painters

Gerasimos Pitsamanos Gerasimos Pitsamanos or Pitzamanos ( el, Γεράσιμος Πιτσαμάνος or Πιτζαμάνος; 6 March 1787 – 5 December 1825) was a Greek architect and portrait painter. Most of his known works are watercolors. Biography He was bo ...

Dionysios Tsokos Dionysios Tsokos (Greek: Διονύσιος Τσόκος; c. 1814/1820 in Zakynthos – 1862 in Athens) was a Greek painter; one of the first to gain recognition in the Ottoman Empire, post-Ottoman period. He is mostly known for portraits and hi ...

and Dionysios Kallivokas. He was one of the earliest members of the modern Greek art period.

Gallery

File:Νικόλαος-Καντούνης.-Η-Αποκαθήλωση.-Από-το-ναό-των-Αγίων-Αναργύρων.jpg, Christ Removed From Cross File:Martinengo Elisavet.jpg, Portrait of Greek writer Elizabeth Moutzan-Martinegou File:Νικόλαος-Καντούνης.-Ο-ευαγγελιστής-Ματθαίος.-Από-το-ναό-της-Παναγίας-Πικριδιώτισσας.-1833.-882x1200.jpg, The Evangelist Matthew File:Icon with Saint George the Dragon-Slayer on horseback. Painted by Nikolaos Kantounis. Late 18th-early 19th c. (8384487676).jpg, Saint George the Dragon-Slayer File:Descent from the Cross by Kantounis.jpg, Descent from the Cross File:Kantounis-Assumption.jpg, Ascension of Jesus File:Kantounis-Descent.jpg, Descent from the Cross File:Panagiotis Samartzis by Nikolaos Kantounis.jpg, Panagiotis Samartzis (Historian) File:Chemist Nikopoulos by Nikolaos Kantounis.jpg, Chemist Nikopoulos File:Nikolaos Kantounis - o mystikos deipnos.JPG, The Last Supper File:Nikolaos Kantounis.JPG, Priest

Notable works

*Elisabeth Moutzan-Martinegko, ca 1832 ''National Gallery of Athens'' * Lamentation of Christ (Kantounis)

References

External links

More paintings by Kantounis
@ the "ΠΕΡΙ ΤΕΧΝΗΣ Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ" blog. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kantounis, Nikolaos 1767 births 1834 deaths Greek painters People from Zakynthos Religious artists Portrait painters Greek icon painters Painters of the Heptanese School Members of the Filiki Eteria 18th-century Greek painters 19th-century Greek painters

Biography

Gallery

Notable works

See also

References

External links