Theofilos Hadjimichael

(Greek, 1871-1934)

Duel entre Erotokritos et Aristos

Footnotes

*Veuillez noter qu'en raison de la réglementation grecque, ce lot ne peut pas être exporté de Grèce et sera disponible pour consultation et inspection à Athènes sur rendez-vous ou lors de l'exposition à Athènes, du 8 au 10 novembre 2023. Cette œuvre restera à Athènes pendant la vente aux enchères.

*Please note that due to Greek regulation, this lot cannot be exported from Greece and will be available for viewing and inspection in Athens either by appointment or during the Athens Preview, 8-10 November 2023. This work will be located in Athens during the auction.


Painted in 1910, the year Theofilos executed his famous wall paintings at the Kontos mansion in Mt. Pelion, this precious gem illustrates a scene inspired by Erotokritos, a masterpiece of Cretan poetry written by Vintsentzos Kornaros around 1640. Setting great store by true love, courage and patriotism, the poem enjoyed immense popularity and its hero became a symbol of suffering Hellenism, exalted side by side with Digenis Akritas and Alexander the Great. Not surprisingly, Theofilos's legendary wooden chest contained a popular edition of this celebrated heroic romance.

Here, clad in the attire of a Roman emperor, the young Greek is engaged in a fierce duel with Aristos, henchman of the Vlachs and nephew of the king of Wallachia. As noted by Y. Tsarouchis, "this outfit known from the folk woodcuts of Erotokritos and the Roman soldiers in 19th c. post-Byzantine icons, is identical to Italian opera costumes, as designed by famed set designers such as Torelli and long before them by such greats as Botticelli and Raphael, when they painted military saints or archangels."<sup>1

1</sup> Y. Tsarouchis, "The Painter Theofilos" preface to Theofilos, Commercial Bank of Greece edition, Athens 1967, p. 18.