Emmanuel Tzanes
Emmanuel Tzanes (1610 – 28 March 1690), also known as Bounialis, Emmanuel Tzane-Bounialis, Emmanuel Zane, or Emmanuel Tzane, was a Greek Renaissance iconographer, author, clergyman, and educator. He spent the latter half of his life in Venice, where he was parish priest of the church of San Giorgio dei Greci and a member of the Flanginian School run by the city's Greek Confraternity. Tzanes painted icons in the style of the Cretan school, influenced by contemporary trends in Venetian painting.
Also recorded as Emmanuel Tzanès · Emmanouil Tzane · Emanuele Zane
Emmanuel Tzanes

Emmanuel Tzanes · Reference · Public domain
- Born
- 1610
- Birthplace
- Rethymno, Crete, Republic of Venice
- Died
- March 28, 1690
- Place of death
- Venice, Republic of Venice
- Movement
- Cretan school Heptanese school
- Nationality
- Republic of Venice
- Occupation
- eastern orthodox priest · iconographer · painter
- Fields
- icon
- Known for
- Christ Enthroned
- Languages
- Modern Greek
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Documentary summary
Emmanuel Tzanes (1610 – 28 March 1690), also known as Bounialis, Emmanuel Tzane-Bounialis, Emmanuel Zane, or Emmanuel Tzane, was a Greek Renaissance iconographer, author, clergyman, and educator. He spent the latter half of his life in Venice, where he was parish priest of the church of San Giorgio dei Greci and a member of the Flanginian School run by the city's Greek Confraternity. Tzanes painted icons in the style of the Cretan school, influenced by contemporary trends in Venetian painting.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q1338447 · wikipedia · Emmanuel Tzanes
In this article
Biography
Biography
His known extant works, over 130 in number, can be found in public foundations, private collections, churches and monasteries in Greece. The most popular of these is The Holy Towel, finished in 1659. Tzanes was a collaborator with Philotheos Skoufos, and brothers with the painter Konstantinos Tzanes and the poet Marinos Tzanes.
The recorded working language is Modern Greek. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are icon. Places of work recorded in the authority are Rethymno, Corfu and Venice. Works named in the authority record are Christ Enthroned. Work by Emmanuel Tzanes is recorded in the collections of Byzantine and Christian Museum, Benaki Museum, Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, Baron Tositsa Museum of Metsovo and Museum of Byzantine Culture.

Portrait of Jesus Historical Museum of Crete
Emmanuel Tzanes

Virgin and Child (Lady the Lambovitissa)
Emmanuel Tzanes · Own work Official Website
Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 1610 • Birthplace — Rethymno, Crete, Republic of Venice • Died — March 28, 1690 • Place of death — Venice, Republic of Venice • Movement — Cretan school Heptanese school
History
History
Born in Rethymno, Crete, Tzanes became a priest sometime before 1637. After the Ottomans conquered Rethymno in 1646, he fled Crete and spent eight years in Corfu. Here he painted numerous icons, sometimes in collaboration with Philotheos Skoufos. Tzanes moved to Venice in early 1655, remaining there for the rest of his life. In March of that year he applied to become the priest of San Giorgio dei Greci, offering to paint the church for free, but was initially turned down in favor of Skoufos. Skoufos vacated the position in 1660 and was succeeded by Tzanes, who served for the next twenty years. During his tenure he conducted twenty-six marriages. He was also the supervisor at the Flanginian School of the Greek Confraternity in Venice. Over one hundred and thirty paintings by Tzanes survive, dating between 1636 and 1689. He served both Catholic and Greek Orthodox clients and produced works of all sizes, from small icons and triptychs to monumental paintings and sanctuary doors. Adhering to the Cretan school style which he learned in Rethymno, his paintings are dated and often include clients' portraits. His influence can be seen in works of the later Heptanese school. Tzanes regularly painted icons of Saint Alypius the Stylite, Saint Gabdelas the Persian, Saint Demetrius on horseback, and the Virgin and Christ enthroned. His brother Konstantinos Tzanes was also a painter and lived in Venice with him.
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Christ Enthroned • Illustration — Jesus Christ • Illustration — Virgin and Child • Illustration — Virgin and Child • Illustration — Lamentation • Illustration — Lamentation of Christ • Illustration — Miracle of Cincture • Illustration — John the Baptist • Illustration — St. Mark the Evangelist • Illustration — St. George killing the dragon • Illustration — Saint Nicholas of Myra • Illustration — Saint Cyril of Alexandria • Illustration — Saint Theodora • Illustration — Saint Gobdelas the Persian • Illustration — Ladder of Divine Ascent
Crete
Crete
• 1636 Saint Spyridon (Correr Museum, Venice) • 1640 Evangelism (Berlin State Museums) • 1641 Theotokos Amolintos (Madonna and Child) (Museum of Zakynthos) • 1644 The Tree of Jesse (Hellenic Institute of Venice) • 1645 Theotokos Odigitria (Madonna and Child) (Holy Trinity Giudecca, Venice) • 1645 Agios Antonios (Panagia ton Xenon, Corfu) • 1646 Timios Prodromos (John the Baptist) (Church of Timios Prodromos, Kranidi)
Corfu
Corfu
• 1648 Christ in Glory (Metropolitan Palace, Corfu) • 1648 Saint Cyril (Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens) • 1649 Agios Iason (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu) • 1650 Agios Sosipater (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu) • 1650 Theotokos Enthroned (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu) • 1651 Theotokos (Virgin) Madre della Consolazione (Monastery of Platytera, Corfu) • 1654 Saint Cyril of Alexandria (Museum of Antivouniotissa) • 1654 Agios (Saint) Ioannis o Damaskinos (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu) • 1654 Saint Gregory of Palamas (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu) • 1655 Agios (Saint) Gavdelaas (Private Collection, Venice)
Venice
Venice
• 1656 Agios (Saint) Dimitrios (Loverdos Collection) • 1657 Noli me tangere (Antivouniotissa, Corfu) • 1657 The Virgin Mary Madre della Consolazionne • 1657 Saint Mark • 1662 Saint Onuphrius • 1663 Ladder of Divine Ascent • 1664 Christ Enthroned • 1671 Saint Theodora • 1684 Lady the Lambovitissa
Literary works
Literary works
• Satisfaction is beneficial for every Christian (In Greek) • Sequence of the holy great martyr Fotini of Samaritan, or Christ spoke in the well (In Greek) • Narration with lyrics of the terrible war that took place on the island of Crete (In Greek)
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the headings Emmanuel Tzanès, Emmanouil Tzane and Emanuele Zane. His recorded language was Modern Greek. His recorded confession was Eastern Orthodoxy.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1610
Emmanuel Tzanes born at Rethymno.
1690
Emmanuel Tzanes died at Venice.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Rethymno.
Birth place
Venice.
Death place
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Speake, Graham. Emmanuel Tzanes Encyclopedia of Greece and the Hellenic Tradition. Rutledge Taylor & Francis Group. 443. 2021. 9781135942137.
- 2.Heinz Skrobucha, The World of Icons, 1971, p.97
- 3.Jane Turner, The Dictionary of Art, 1996, p.334
- 4.Steven Bigham, Heroes of the Icon: People, Places, Events, 2000, p.136
- 5.Tsokkoy, Κ. Α. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Philosophical School Refugees of the Cretan War. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. 87–88. 2008.
- 6.Tsokkoy, 2008, p. 158
- 7.Speake, 2021, p. 443-447
- 8.Icon of Saint Govdelaas -. MBP.
- 9.Eugenia Drakopoulou. ' Tzanes (Zane) Konstantinos (Constantino). Institute for Neohellenic Research. May 25, 2021.
- 10.Speake, 2021, p. 444-445
Bibliography printed in the source article · 2
- Tselenti-Papadopoulou, Niki G. Οι Εικονες της Ελληνικης Αδελφοτητας της Βενετιας απο το 16ο εως το Πρωτο Μισο του 20ου Αιωνα: Αρχειακη Τεκμηριωση. Ministry of Culture Publication of the Archaeological Bulletin No. 81. 2002. 960-214-221-9.
- Hatzidakis, Manolis. Έλληνες Ζωγράφοι μετά την Άλωση (1450-1830). Τόμος 2: Καβαλλάρος - Ψαθόπουλος. Center for Modern Greek Studies, National Research Foundation. 1997. 960-7916-00-X.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1338447: Emmanuel TzanesWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Paintings
18,792 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Emmanuel BennerArtist
- Emmanuel KaviArtist
- Emmanuel Mané-KatzArtist
- Emmanuel SkordilisArtist
- Emmanuel TzanfournarisArtist
- Emmanuel ViérinArtist
- Emmanuil Dmitriev-MamonovArtist
- Emmy BridgwaterArtist
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