Kostandin and Athanas Zografi
Encyclopedia
The brothers Kostandin Zografi and Athanas Zografi were Albanian
painters of the 18th century from Dardhë
, in modern Korçë District
, southern Albania
(then Ottoman Empire
). They are regarded as the most prominent painters of the Albanian post-Byzantine
icon
art of the 18th century and generally of the region of Epirus
. Along with David Selenicasi
, Kostandin Shpataraku
, Terpo Zografi, Efthim Zografi, Gjon Çetiri, Naum Çetiri, Gjergj Çetiri, Nikolla Çetiri, and Ndin Çetiri they represent the School of Korçë painting.
. In particular, their paintings and fresco
es in Moscopole
, especially in the church St. Athanasius
and the monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian
in Vithkuq
are of unique value. They were active in the period 1736-1783 and usually signed their works in Greek "By the hands of Konstantinos and Athanasios from Korytsa (Korçë)" . They signed their works not only using their names, but also the word Shqiptar (Albanian), which is the endonym Albanians use for themselves. Their surname, Zografi, means "painter" in .
style using a wide variety of brown and bright colors. The main colors used in their works were white, bright blue, and dark red.
Zografi brothers together with David Selenicasi
continued the tradition of the Palaeologan art that was revived at Mount Athos during 18th century.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
painters of the 18th century from Dardhë
Dardhë
Dardhë is a community in the municipality of Drenovë in the Korçë District, Korçë County, Albania.A Greek school was operating in the village from 1810.-Notable people:*Sotir Peçi, mathematician, former Minister of Education and publisher....
, in modern Korçë District
Korçë District
The District of Korçë , is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania. According estimates, as of January 1, 2010, 138,898 people lived in the Korce District...
, southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(then Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
). They are regarded as the most prominent painters of the Albanian post-Byzantine
Byzantine art
Byzantine art is the term commonly used to describe the artistic products of the Byzantine Empire from about the 5th century until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453....
icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
art of the 18th century and generally of the region of Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
. Along with David Selenicasi
David Selenicasi
David Selenica or Selenicasi was an Albanian painter of the late 17th and the early 18th century. He is regarded as one of the most prominent figures of Albanian post-Byzantine icon painting....
, Kostandin Shpataraku
Kostandin Shpataraku
Kostandin Shpataraku was an Albanian painter and decorator. Many of his icons are located in Ardenica Monastery. One of his associated works sold at a charity ball hosted by Liri Berisha, wife of the Albanian premier for 75,000 euros....
, Terpo Zografi, Efthim Zografi, Gjon Çetiri, Naum Çetiri, Gjergj Çetiri, Nikolla Çetiri, and Ndin Çetiri they represent the School of Korçë painting.
Works
The Zografi brothers have decorated with their paintings several Orthodox churches and monasteries throughout central and southern modern Albania, as well as Mount AthosMount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
. In particular, their paintings and fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es in Moscopole
Moscopole
Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small municipality in Korçë District, modern southeastern Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches...
, especially in the church St. Athanasius
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
and the monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian
Saints Cosmas and Damian
Saints Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers, physicians, and early Christian martyrs born in Cilicia, part of today's Turkey. They practiced their profession in the seaport of Ayas, Adana, then in the Roman province of Syria...
in Vithkuq
Vithkuq
Vithkuq is a municipality in the Korçë District, Korçë County, southeastern Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Vithkuq, Leshnje, Gjanc, Lubonjë, Rehovë, Roshanj, Trebickë, Grabockë, Treskë, Stratobërdh, Panarit, Shtyllë and Cemericë....
are of unique value. They were active in the period 1736-1783 and usually signed their works in Greek "By the hands of Konstantinos and Athanasios from Korytsa (Korçë)" . They signed their works not only using their names, but also the word Shqiptar (Albanian), which is the endonym Albanians use for themselves. Their surname, Zografi, means "painter" in .
Technique
The work of the Zografi brothers has a marked tendency towards the baroque, with linear depictions of the religious figures, and at the same time adopting an ornamentalOrnamental
Ornamental may refer to:*Ornamental grass, a type of grass grown as a decoration*Ornamental iron, mild steel that has been formed into decorative shapes, similar to wrought iron work*Ornamental plant, a plant that is grown for its ornamental qualities...
style using a wide variety of brown and bright colors. The main colors used in their works were white, bright blue, and dark red.
Zografi brothers together with David Selenicasi
David Selenicasi
David Selenica or Selenicasi was an Albanian painter of the late 17th and the early 18th century. He is regarded as one of the most prominent figures of Albanian post-Byzantine icon painting....
continued the tradition of the Palaeologan art that was revived at Mount Athos during 18th century.
External links
- Karin Kirchhainer: Die Malereien in den Gewölbezonen der Kuppelbasiliken von Voskopoje (Moschopolis). Acta Studia Albanica 1, 2007, S. 60–96
- Paintings on Deutsche Fotothek.