Vision of Constantine (Stavarkis) is a tempera painting created by Greek painter and goldsmith

Stylianos Stavrakis Stylianos Stavrakis ( el, Στυλιανός Σταυράκης, 1709/1714 – 1786), was a Greek painter during the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment era in art. He was a goldsmith and painter. He was very active on the Ionian Islands. Nikolaos ...

. Stavrakis was a major representative of the Heptanese school. Many of his works were completed on the Ionian islands namely Zakynthos. He was active during the 1700s. He was from a prominent family of painters His student was his nephew famous Greek painter

Demetrios Stavrakis Demetrios Stavrakis ( el, Δημήτριος Σταυράκης, 1735/40 – 1801), also known as the so-called Romanos ( el, ο λεγόμενος Ρωμανός) was a Greek painter of the Heptanese School. His uncles were famous painters A ...

Emperor Constantine Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea ...

and his army were at war with the Roman Emperor

Maxentius Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c. 283 – 28 October 312) was a Roman emperor, who reigned from 306 until his death in 312. Despite ruling in Italy and North Africa, and having the recognition of the Senate in Rome, he was not recognized ...

. According to legend, Constantine prayed with his army and a cross appeared in the sky. A miraculous inscription appeared in the sky: Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα (En to tow nika) the translation is by this sign, you will conquer. In Stavraki's rendition, an angel appears playing a horn. A cross is also present.

and his troops were astounded by the phenomenon. Constantine was victorious at the

Battle of the Milvian Bridge The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the pa ...

. Upon his victory, he was crowned the new emperor. He triumphantly entered Rome. His victory marked the end of the persecution of Christians. Innumerable works depicting the miraculous event were completed by Greek and Italian artists. A popular version with the aforementioned theme was completed by Raphael's assistants not long after his death called The Vision of the Cross. Famous Greek painter

Elias Moskos Ilias or Elias Moskos ( el, Ηλίας Μόσκος, 1620/1629- January 26, 1687) was a Greek educator, shipping merchant and painter from Crete. The last name Moskos was associated with three famous painters of the Cretan School alive during the ...

also completed a notable version of

The Vision of Constantine (Moskos) ''The Vision of Constantine'' was an egg tempera painting created by Elias Moskos. Moskos was active during the 17th century. Fifty-two paintings are attributed to the artist. He was active on the Greek islands of Crete and Zakynthos. He is o ...

. Mosko's work influenced Stavraki's painting. Italian sculptor

Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, , ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 159828 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor of his ...

completed a sculpture of '' The Vision of Constantine''. Both Moskos and Stavraki's paintings resemble Bernini's magnificent work. Stavraki's work is currently part of the collection of the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Mosko's painting is housed at the same museum.

History

''Vision of Constantine'' is a tempera painting on wood panel in the form of an arch. The height of the work is 86 cm (33.8 in) and the width is 174 cm (68.5 in). The painting was used to fill an archway in a church in Zakynthos. A large number of vessels are present in the water as the battle is about to ensue. A city looms in the background. The artist carefully paints the structures indicating a saturated city possibly Rome. The horse is greeted by a soldier. He is dressed in ostentatious attire. The gold of Constantine's militaristic attire is representative of the celestial realm from which he descended. Constantine's imperial uniform exhibits intricate ornamentation and brilliant colors. His cape flows in a weightless setting. The gold decoration illustrates Constantine's majestic divinity. The horse is sculpturesque as it rests on its hind legs. The emperor's hand gestures are similar in Moskos and Stavraki's paintings. Both works also resemble

's equestrian statue of Constantine '' The Vision of Constantine''. All three versions of '' The Vision of Constantine'' convey a unique hand gesture of prayer. An angel is behind the Constantine playing a horn while he gazes at a cross in the sky with the famous Greek inscription. Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα (En to tow nika) the translation is by this sign, you will conquer.

Gallery

Elias Moskos Saint Constantine.png, Vision of Constantine Moskos File:Gianlorenzo bernini, costantino, 1670, 02.jpg, Vision of Constantine

File:School of Raphael - Vision of the Cross.jpg,

The Vision of the Cross ''The Vision of the Cross'' is a painting made between 1520 and 1524 by assistants of the Italian renaissance artist Raphael. After the master's death in 1520, Gianfrancesco Penni, Giulio Romano and Raffaellino del Colle from Raphael's worksho ...

Raphael's Students

References

{{Heptanese School (painting) 18th-century paintings Paintings in Greece Paintings of the Heptanese school