Munich School
Encyclopedia
The most important artistic movement of Greek Art
in the 19th century was academic realism, often called in Greece "the Munich School
" because of the strong influence from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Munich
, where many Greek artists trained.
in Greece
can be explained mainly due to the particular relationships that were created between recently liberated Greece
(1830) and Bavaria
during King Otto
's years (See:Kingdom of Greece
). In this period the Greek state was encouraging young artists to study at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
in Munich
and in particular study painting
. In addition, after centuries of Ottoman rule, few opportunities existed for young artist in Greece
itself, immediately after independence, so studying abroad was imperative for them. Munich
,was an important international center for the arts and is the place where the majority of the Greek artists of 19th century would chose to study and a minority would go to Paris
. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" of painting. Many of these young artists later have returned to Greece
to teach to the Polytechnic School
and later Athens School of Fine Arts
, where they would transmit their artistic experiences. Some of them like Nikolaus Gysis have chosen to remain in Munich, the so called Athens on the Isar
.
, landscape painting and still life
.
(1814–1878) and Dionysios Tsokos (1820–1862) (According to other art critics he belongs more to the Heptanese School). Both of them draw their subjects from the Greek War of Independence
in 1821, focusing on idealised ideas on the Greek Revolution and not giving much attention to the violent and tragic aspects of a war. Even more dramatic in their depictions were the later Konstantinos Volanakis
(1837–1907) and Ioannis Altamouras
(1852–1878), that were focused more on the naval battles of the 1821 Revolution.
Main representatives of the artistic movement were apart from Volanakis
the painters that worked mainly during the second half of the 19th century like Nikiphoros Lytras
(1832–1904), Nikolaos Gysis (1842–1901) and Georgios Iacovidis. (1853–1907). Gysis stayed at the Academy in Germany while the others have returned to teach at the Athens School of Fine Arts
. Their teaching and artistry have marked the 19th century artistic era in Greece.
Nikiphoros Lytras
is considered the pope of Greek painting and the major iconographer of Greek life during the 19th century. Paintings such as The milkman or The awaiting consist reference points in Greek Art
. Gysis worked mainly on ethography while at the maturity of his career he shifted towards the iconography of visions, allegories and symbolisms. Iacovidis paintings were mainly portraiture
and depiction of children scenes. The latter was the founder and first curator of the National Gallery of Greece in Athens
.
Other painters include Epameinondas Thomopoulos
, Ioannis Koutsis
, Stylianos Miliadis
, Nikolaos Vokos
, Ioannis Zaharias (1845–?) and Polychronis Lembesis
. Influences of academic realism can also be seen in the work of many Greek artists such as Spyros Vikatos (1878–1960), Thalia Flora-Karavia (1871–1960) and Hector Doukas (1886–1969).
The end of the movement started when some Greek painters after the mid-19th century such as Periclis Pantazis (1849–1884) departed from academic realism towards impressionism and the final end occurred when expressionist Nikolaos Lytras (1883–1927) and Konstantinos Parthenis
(1878–1967) started to teach at the Athens School of Fine Arts
.
Greek art
Greek art began in the Cycladic and Minoan prehistorical civilization, and gave birth to Western classical art in the ancient period...
in the 19th century was academic realism, often called in Greece "the Munich School
Munich School
The most important artistic movement of Greek Art in the 19th century was academic realism, often called in Greece "the Munich School" because of the strong influence from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Munich , where many Greek artists trained.- History :...
" because of the strong influence from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, where many Greek artists trained.
History
The creation of romantic artRomanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
can be explained mainly due to the particular relationships that were created between recently liberated Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(1830) and Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
during King Otto
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
's years (See:Kingdom of Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
). In this period the Greek state was encouraging young artists to study at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and in particular study painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. In addition, after centuries of Ottoman rule, few opportunities existed for young artist in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
itself, immediately after independence, so studying abroad was imperative for them. Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
,was an important international center for the arts and is the place where the majority of the Greek artists of 19th century would chose to study and a minority would go to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" of painting. Many of these young artists later have returned to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to teach to the Polytechnic School
Polytechnic School
Polytechnic School, often referred to as simply Poly, is a college preparatory private school in Pasadena, California.-History:The school was founded in 1907 as the first private non-sectarian, non-profit elementary school in California. It descends from the Throop Polytechnic Institute founded by...
and later Athens School of Fine Arts
Athens School of Fine Arts
The Athens School of Fine Arts , is Greece's premier art school whose main objective is to develop the artistic talents of its students.-History:Athens School of Fine Arts was established on 12 January 1837, known as the School for the Arts...
, where they would transmit their artistic experiences. Some of them like Nikolaus Gysis have chosen to remain in Munich, the so called Athens on the Isar
Isar
The Isar is a river in Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel range of the Alps in Tyrol; it enters Germany near Mittenwald, and flows through Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching the Danube near Deggendorf. At 295 km in length, it is the fourth largest river...
.
Artistic styles
The works of the Munich school painters are characterised by an expert and overly use of colours that would overshadow the figures expressions. Scenes were depicted in a pompous and theatrical way, although not lacking emotional tension. In academic realism the imperative is the ethography, the representation of urban and/or rural life with a special attention in the depiction of architectural elements, the traditional cloth and the various objects. Munich School painters were specialised on portraiturePortrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
, landscape painting and still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
.
Representative artists
Artists that belong to the School of Munich include the first painters of free Greece such as Theodoros VryzakisTheodoros Vryzakis
Theodoros Vryzakis was a major Greek painter of the 19th century.- Life :Vryzakis's father died in the Greek War of Independence...
(1814–1878) and Dionysios Tsokos (1820–1862) (According to other art critics he belongs more to the Heptanese School). Both of them draw their subjects from the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
in 1821, focusing on idealised ideas on the Greek Revolution and not giving much attention to the violent and tragic aspects of a war. Even more dramatic in their depictions were the later Konstantinos Volanakis
Konstantinos Volanakis
Konstantinos Volanakis or Volonakis was a Greek painter, considered one of the best of the 19th century. Born to a wealthy family, he went to Trieste, Italy, in 1856 where he took up painting. He studied in the Munich Academy. He is one of the foremost representatives of the Munich School, a Greek...
(1837–1907) and Ioannis Altamouras
Ioannis Altamouras
Ioannis Altamouras was an outstanding Greek painter of the 19th century famous for his paintings of seascapes.- Biography :...
(1852–1878), that were focused more on the naval battles of the 1821 Revolution.
Main representatives of the artistic movement were apart from Volanakis
Konstantinos Volanakis
Konstantinos Volanakis or Volonakis was a Greek painter, considered one of the best of the 19th century. Born to a wealthy family, he went to Trieste, Italy, in 1856 where he took up painting. He studied in the Munich Academy. He is one of the foremost representatives of the Munich School, a Greek...
the painters that worked mainly during the second half of the 19th century like Nikiphoros Lytras
Nikiphoros Lytras
Nikiphoros Lytras was a nineteenth century Greek painter. He was born in Tinos, and trained in Athens at the School of Arts. In 1860 he won a scholarship to Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Munich. After completing these studies, he became a professor at the School of Arts in 1866, a position he held...
(1832–1904), Nikolaos Gysis (1842–1901) and Georgios Iacovidis. (1853–1907). Gysis stayed at the Academy in Germany while the others have returned to teach at the Athens School of Fine Arts
Athens School of Fine Arts
The Athens School of Fine Arts , is Greece's premier art school whose main objective is to develop the artistic talents of its students.-History:Athens School of Fine Arts was established on 12 January 1837, known as the School for the Arts...
. Their teaching and artistry have marked the 19th century artistic era in Greece.
Nikiphoros Lytras
Nikiphoros Lytras
Nikiphoros Lytras was a nineteenth century Greek painter. He was born in Tinos, and trained in Athens at the School of Arts. In 1860 he won a scholarship to Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Munich. After completing these studies, he became a professor at the School of Arts in 1866, a position he held...
is considered the pope of Greek painting and the major iconographer of Greek life during the 19th century. Paintings such as The milkman or The awaiting consist reference points in Greek Art
Greek art
Greek art began in the Cycladic and Minoan prehistorical civilization, and gave birth to Western classical art in the ancient period...
. Gysis worked mainly on ethography while at the maturity of his career he shifted towards the iconography of visions, allegories and symbolisms. Iacovidis paintings were mainly portraiture
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
and depiction of children scenes. The latter was the founder and first curator of the National Gallery of Greece in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
Other painters include Epameinondas Thomopoulos
Epameinondas Thomopoulos
Epameinondas Thomopoulos was a Greek artist who attended the academy and the first Greek impressionist....
, Ioannis Koutsis
Ioannis Koutsis
Ioannis Koutsis was a Greek painter who was a member of the Munich School Greek art movement of the 19th century.-Biography:...
, Stylianos Miliadis
Stylianos Miliadis
Stylianos Myliadis was a Greek painter of the so-called "Munich School".-Biography:He was born in the island of Chios, which belonged to the Ottoman Empire until 1912. Early on he moved to Piraeus where he took his first lessons from the distinguished painter Konstantinos Volanakis...
, Nikolaos Vokos
Nikolaos Vokos
Nikolaos Vokos was a Greek painter of the Munich School art movement.- Biography :He was the son of Emmanouil Miaoulis and a grandson of Admiral Andreas Vokos Miaoulis. He was initially enrolled in the Cadet School, but on discovering his passion for painting he left it to study at the Athens...
, Ioannis Zaharias (1845–?) and Polychronis Lembesis
Polychronis Lembesis
Polychronis Lembesis, was a Greek painter, a member of the Munich School of Greek artists.- Biography :...
. Influences of academic realism can also be seen in the work of many Greek artists such as Spyros Vikatos (1878–1960), Thalia Flora-Karavia (1871–1960) and Hector Doukas (1886–1969).
The end of the movement started when some Greek painters after the mid-19th century such as Periclis Pantazis (1849–1884) departed from academic realism towards impressionism and the final end occurred when expressionist Nikolaos Lytras (1883–1927) and Konstantinos Parthenis
Konstantinos Parthenis
Konstantinos Parthenis born in Alexandria, Egypt was a distinguished Greek painter. Parthenis broke with the Greek academic tradition of the 19th century and introduced modern elements together with traditional themes, like the figure of Christ, in his art.-External links:*...
(1878–1967) started to teach at the Athens School of Fine Arts
Athens School of Fine Arts
The Athens School of Fine Arts , is Greece's premier art school whose main objective is to develop the artistic talents of its students.-History:Athens School of Fine Arts was established on 12 January 1837, known as the School for the Arts...
.