Yiannis Moralis
Encyclopedia
Yiannis Moralis (23 April 1916 – 20 December 2009) was an important Greek
visual artist and part of the so-called "Generation of the 30s".
, in 1916, Moralis moved to Athens
with his parents in 1927. From the age of 15 he studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts
under Umbertos Argyros and Konstantinos Parthenis
. In 1936 he received a grant from this school to study for a year in Rome. After this, he went to Paris to study fresco
and mural
work at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
in Paris. He also studied mosaic
at the École des Arts et Métiers.
When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Moralis returned to Greece
. The first exhibition of one of his works was in 1940; numerous other exhibitions followed both nationally and internationally.
From 1947 Moralis taught at the Athens School of Fine Arts until his retirement in 1983. In 1949 he formed, with other artists including Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas
, Yannis Tsarouchis
, Nikos Nikolaou
, Nikos Engonopoulos
and Panayiotis Tetsis
, the "Armos" art group. This group had its first exhibition in 1950 in Athens' Zappeion
.
Moralis died on December 20, 2009.
From the 1970s, he moved from the realistic depictions of the human form of his earlier works towards a geometric stylisation incorporating curves.
Over the years, Moralis was also involved with creating theatrical set and costume designs for the Greek National Theatre and the Greek National Ballet; illustrating poetic works by Odysseas Elytis
and Giorgos Seferis
; and decorating architectural works such as the façade of the Athens Hilton, the Metro-Station "Panepistimiou" and the Athens Central Station.
In 1965 he was decorated by King Constantine II
with the Order of the Phoenix.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
visual artist and part of the so-called "Generation of the 30s".
Life
Born in Arta, GreeceArta, Greece
Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
, in 1916, Moralis moved to 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...
with his parents in 1927. From the age of 15 he studied 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...
under Umbertos Argyros 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:*...
. In 1936 he received a grant from this school to study for a year in Rome. After this, he went to Paris to study 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...
and mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
work at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
in Paris. He also studied mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
at the École des Arts et Métiers.
When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Moralis 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....
. The first exhibition of one of his works was in 1940; numerous other exhibitions followed both nationally and internationally.
From 1947 Moralis taught at the Athens School of Fine Arts until his retirement in 1983. In 1949 he formed, with other artists including Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas
Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas
Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas was a leading Greek painter, sculptor, engraver, iconographer, writer and academic...
, Yannis Tsarouchis
Yannis Tsarouchis
-Early life:Born in Piraeus, he studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts . He was also a student of Photios Kontoglou, who introduced him to Byzantine iconography, while he also studied popular architecture and dressing customs...
, Nikos Nikolaou
Nikos Nikolaou
Nikos Nikolaou was a major figure in Greek art during the 20th century.In 1929 Nikolaou is admitted into the Athens School of Fine Arts where he studied under Konstantinos Parthenis and Umbertos Argyros....
, Nikos Engonopoulos
Nikos Engonopoulos
Nikos Engonopoulos was a modern Greek painter and poet. He is one of the most important members of the Greek Generation of the '30s as well as a major representative of the surrealistic movement in Greece...
and Panayiotis Tetsis
Panayiotis Tetsis
Panayiotis Tetsis is a major Greek painter. Tetsis is a genuine exponent of the post-impressionistic seascape tradition.- Life and work :...
, the "Armos" art group. This group had its first exhibition in 1950 in Athens' Zappeion
Zappeion
The Zappeion is a building in the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens, Greece. It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private.-Constructing the Zappeion:...
.
Moralis died on December 20, 2009.
Works
Some of Moralis' most famous works include:- Two Friends (1946)
- Pregnant Woman (1948)
- Seated Nude (1952)
- Erotiko (1990).
From the 1970s, he moved from the realistic depictions of the human form of his earlier works towards a geometric stylisation incorporating curves.
Over the years, Moralis was also involved with creating theatrical set and costume designs for the Greek National Theatre and the Greek National Ballet; illustrating poetic works by Odysseas Elytis
Odysseas Elytis
Odysseas Elytis was regarded as a major exponent of romantic modernism in Greece and the world. In 1979 he was bestowed with the Nobel Prize in Literature.-Biography:...
and Giorgos Seferis
Giorgos Seferis
Giorgos or George Seferis was the pen name of Geōrgios Seferiádēs . He was one of the most important Greek poets of the 20th century, and a Nobel laureate...
; and decorating architectural works such as the façade of the Athens Hilton, the Metro-Station "Panepistimiou" and the Athens Central Station.
In 1965 he was decorated by King Constantine II
Constantine II of Greece
|align=right|Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1973, the sixth and last monarch of the Greek Royal Family....
with the Order of the Phoenix.
External links
- Perigrafis – biography in Greek; includes photos of several paintings
- Paleta – thumbnails of numerous paintings
- The Cangelaris Collection (English and Greek)