Nassos Daphnis
Encyclopedia
Nassos Daphnis was a Greek born American abstract painter and tree peony
breeder. Originally a florist he brought the sensitivity he cultivated in that profession as well as a profound sense of natural geometry to his new discipline, painting
.
As a painter Daphnis was considered to have worked in the Hard-edge
and Geometric abstraction style looking back towards the opus of Piet Mondrian
. He was categorized as an abstract imagist a term which arose from a 1961 exhibition in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
, New York
called American Abstract Expressionists. For many years his artwork was represented by the Leo Castelli Gallery
and in then in his later years by the Anita Shapolsky Gallery.
In 1938 he met William H. Gratwick of Linwood Gardens, New York
, a prominent breeder of tree peonies. Daphnis eventually became a partner with Gratwick in the business and art of hybridizing tree peonies, creating many beautiful cultivar
s and naming them after artists and figures in Greek mythology
.
Tree peony
Tree peony can refer to any member of the plant genus Paeonia that has a woody habit, including:*Paeonia delavayi, Delavay's tree peony*Paeonia ludlowii, Ludlow's tree peony*Paeonia rockii, Rock's tree peony...
breeder. Originally a florist he brought the sensitivity he cultivated in that profession as well as a profound sense of natural geometry to his new discipline, 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...
.
As a painter Daphnis was considered to have worked in the Hard-edge
Hard-edge painting
Hard-edge painting is painting in which abrupt transitions are found between color areas. Color areas are often of one unvarying color. The Hard-edge painting style is related to Geometric abstraction, Op Art, Post-painterly Abstraction, and Color Field painting.-History of the term:The term was...
and Geometric abstraction style looking back towards the opus of Piet Mondrian
Piet Mondrian
Pieter Cornelis "Piet" Mondriaan, after 1906 Mondrian , was a Dutch painter.He was an important contributor to the De Stijl art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg. He evolved a non-representational form which he termed Neo-Plasticism...
. He was categorized as an abstract imagist a term which arose from a 1961 exhibition in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
called American Abstract Expressionists. For many years his artwork was represented by the Leo Castelli Gallery
Leo Castelli
Leo Castelli was an American art dealer. He was best known to the public as an art dealer whose gallery showcased cutting edge Contemporary art for five decades...
and in then in his later years by the Anita Shapolsky Gallery.
In 1938 he met William H. Gratwick of Linwood Gardens, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, a prominent breeder of tree peonies. Daphnis eventually became a partner with Gratwick in the business and art of hybridizing tree peonies, creating many beautiful cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s and naming them after artists and figures in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.