The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin (Moskos)
Painting by Elias Moskos / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin is a tempera painting created by Elias Moskos. Moskos was a representative of the Late Cretan School and the Heptanese School. He migrated to Zakinthos from Crete. He was originally from the city of Rethymno. He participated in the transition of Greek painting from the Cretan School to the more refined Heptanese School of the Ionian islands. He also taught painting. His activity was from 1645 to 1687. He was active on the islands of Crete, Zakynthos, and Kefalonia. He was heavily involved with church committees. Church committees commissioned paintings. Half of his works were signed fifty-two of his works survived.[1][2]
The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin | |
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Greek: Η Κοίμηση και η Ανάσταση της Θεοτόκου, Italian: La Dormizione e l'Assunzione della Vergine | |
Artist | Elias Moskos |
Year | c. 1679 |
Medium | tempera on wood |
Subject | The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin |
Dimensions | 95 cm × 47 cm (37.4 in × 18.5 in) |
Location | Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens, Greece |
Owner | Byzantine and Christian Museum |
Accession | ΒΧΜ 02054 |
Website | Official Website |
The Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin was a popular theme painted by both Greek and Italian artists since the dawn of the new religion. The chronology of the New Testament states that Mary lived for 11 years after the death of Jesus, dying in AD 41 according to Hippolytus of Thebes. The sanhedrin feared that her body would disappear. According to the Greek Rite she arouse after the third day. She was resurrected. The work of art is a testimony to the event.[3][4] Proto-Renaissance painter Fra Angelico completed a version of the theme around 1432 called Death and the Assumption of the Virgin. Greek painters employed a common technique during the early Cretan School following the traditional lines of Greek Italian Byzantine painting. Andreas Ritzos completed a version of the work during the second half of the 15th century. During the 16th century, El Greco completed a similar version called Dormition of the Virgin. In the 17th century, one of Mosko's contemporaries Victor also finished a similar painting. Mosko's work escaped the traditional confinement of the early Cretan School. His work features complex qualities not existent in earlier versions. The work of art is part of the collection of the Byzantine and Christian Museum.[5][6][7]