Nikolaos Tzafouris

His works influenced Emmanuel Tzanes, Elias Moskos, Georgios Klontzas and Theodoros Poulakis. Tzafouris was one of the most respected artists in Crete. His most notable work is Madre della Consolazione. The painting exhibits a combination of Byzantine and Italian styles. Another notable painter in Crete around the same time was Andreas Pavias. According to the Institute of Neohellenic Research, thirteen paintings are attributed to Tzafouris.

Subjects and genres recorded for the work are icon. Places of work recorded in the authority are Crete. Work by Nikolaos Tzafouris is recorded in the collections of Metropolitan Museum of Art, Byzantine and Christian Museum, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris, Kunsthistorisches Museum and National Museum in Warsaw.

• Born — 1468 • Birthplace — Crete, Greece • Died — 1501 • Place of death — Crete, Greece • Movement — Cretan school

• Illustration — Deposition, Lamentation and Resurrection triptych by Nikolaos Tzafouris, National Museum, Warsaw, between 1489 and 1501 Nikolaos was born in Crete. He was influenced by Angelos Akotantos. The artist traveled to Venice to continue his painting education. He was exposed to the works of Giovanni Bellini and may have trained with him. He returned to Crete towards the end of his life where he had a successful workshop. His workshop mass-produced icons. • Illustration — icon Christ Bearing the Cross by Nikolaos Tzafouris, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City He painted a new style Madonna called Madre della Consolazione which was considered the Italian style and was the standard for the next hundred years. He also emulated Bellini's Pieta which was also heavily copied. Historians have records of the painter's activities in Crete between 1487 and 1501 involving economic affairs. In 1492, he worked with famous Greek painter Georgios Vlastos and the sculptor Nikolaos Varvarigos. The artists worked on a Catholic church in Nafplio called Pala D'altare. Regrettably, nothing from the church survived. The existing documents notate Tzafouris had a workshop in Heraklion. Tzafouris painted religious themes for local churches. He died in Heraklion around 1501. Tzafouris was mentioned in a will found in Venetian archives on February 23, 1537. Five of his signed icons survive. His works followed the maniera greca tradition but also exhibited qualities of Byzantine paintings and frescos. Many Cretan painters began to adopt a style mixing Byzantine and Italian techniques. One work executed by Nikolaos Tzafouris was a triptych Pietà with Saints Francis and Mary Magdalen which can be found at the Ashmolean Museum. Another example of signed icon from Nikolaos Tzafouris, Christ Bearing the Cross, is in the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC.

• Illustration — Pietà after Bellini • Illustration — triptych Resurrection • Illustration — triptych Lamentation • Illustration — Lamentation of Jesus • Illustration — Virgin and Child and St Francis • Illustration — Pietà • Illustration — Pietà • Illustration — Virgin and Child