Theodore Apsevdis ( el, Θεόδωρος Αψευδής) was a Greek painter assumed to be from Constantinople. He is one of the few Byzantine painters known by name. His contemporary in Italy was

Alberto Sotio Alberto Sotio (... - fl. 1187), also Alberto Sozio, was an Italian painter and illuminator of medieval art from Spoleto, active during the second half of the twelfth century. Biography Alberto Sotio is considered the central figure of the twe ...

; both painters were active during the same period. They were active during the

Komnenian restoration The Komnenian restoration is the term used by historians to describe the military, financial, and territorial recovery of the Byzantine Empire under the Komnenian dynasty, from the accession of Alexios I Komnenos in 1081 to the death of Andron ...

. Apsevdis's work influenced the

Palaeologan Renaissance The Palaeologan Renaissance or Palaiologan Renaissance is the final period in the development of Byzantine art. It coincided with the reign of the Palaiologoi, the last dynasty to rule the Byzantine Empire (1261–1453), and essentially preceded ...

. Several Italian artists who painted in the style were

Coppo di Marcovaldo Coppo di Marcovaldo (c. 1225 – c. 1276) was a Florentine painter in the Italo-Byzantine style, active in the middle of the thirteenth century, whose fusion of both the Italian and Byzantine art, Byzantine styles had great influence on gen ...

and

Guido of Siena Guido of Siena, was an Italian painter, active during the 13th-century in Siena, and painting in an Italo-Byzantine style. Biography The name Guido is known from the large panel in the church of San Domenico, Siena of th''Virgin and Child Enthr ...

. Apsevdis and his contemporaries set the stage for the Italian and Cretan Renaissance. Some of his notable work is in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

History

He may have been born in Constantinople sometime during the 12th century. Not much is known about his life. His painting style resembles the art of Constantinople. Historians have deduced he was from the city. He may have traveled all over the empire painting in different churches. His signature was found in one of the churches he painted in Cyprus. He is one of the few artists of the period whose name is known. Italian painter

was the other known artist of the Italio-Byzantium during the same period. Many of Apsevdis's paintings survive until today. They are over 852 years old and are primarily in Cyprus. His main work is at the monastery of Saint Neophytos, Cyprus. The 1192 murals of Panagia tou Araka have also been ascribed to him.Papageorghiou A., Bakirtzis Ch., Hadjicristodoulou Ch. (eds), 2018, The Church of Panagia tou Arakos, Nicosia.

Gallery

Known to be by Apsevdis: File:Theodore Apsevdis Fresco.png, Fresco of a Saint File:Theodore Apsevdis Detail of Fresco.png, Fresco of Three Men Ascribed to Apsevdis: File:Arakiotissa Lagoudera.jpg, Virgin and Child

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apsevdis, Theodore 1150 births 1215 deaths Byzantine Cyprus 12th-century births 13th-century deaths 13th-century Byzantine people 12th-century Byzantine people 13th-century Greek painters 12th-century Greek painters Byzantine painters Christian iconography Constantinopolitan Greeks People from Constantinople Greek Cypriot artists

History

Gallery

See also

References