Pavlos Prosalentis
Pavlos Prosalentis (Greek: Παύλος Προσαλέντης; 28 January 1784 in Corfu – 1 February 1837 in Corfu) was the first professional sculptor in modern Greece. He is often referred to as "The Elder" to distinguish him from his grandson, also named Pavlos Prosalentis (1857-1894), who was a painter.
Pavlos Prosalentis
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- Name
- Pavlos Prosalentis
- Born
- 28 January 1784
- Birthplace
- Corfu, Ionian Islands, Republic of Venice
- Died
- 1 February 1837
- Place of death
- Corfu, United States of the Ionian Islands
- Nationality
- Greece
- Occupation
- painter · sculptor
- Movements
- Orientalism
- Education
- Accademia di San Luca
- Teachers
- Antonio Canova
- Known for
- Statue of Frederick Adam and Kerkyra
- Languages
- Modern Greek
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Documentary summary
Pavlos Prosalentis (Greek: Παύλος Προσαλέντης; 28 January 1784 in Corfu – 1 February 1837 in Corfu) was the first professional sculptor in modern Greece. He is often referred to as "The Elder" to distinguish him from his grandson, also named Pavlos Prosalentis (1857-1894), who was a painter.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q12883316 · wikipedia · Pavlos Prosalentis
In this article
Biography
Biography
Pavlos Prosalentis studied at Accademia di San Luca. Training under Antonio Canova is recorded. The recorded working language is Modern Greek. Works named in the authority record are Statue of Frederick Adam, Kerkyra. Work by Pavlos Prosalentis is recorded in the collections of National Glyptotheque and National Gallery of Athens.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Pavlos Prosalentis • Born — 28 January 1784 • Birthplace — Corfu, Ionian Islands, Republic of Venice • Died — 1 February 1837 • Place of death — Corfu, United States of the Ionian Islands
Biography
Biography
• Illustration — Bust of Plato (1815), the first dated modern Greek sculpture He was descended from a noble Byzantine family, who fled to areas under the control of the Venetian Republic after the Fall of Constantinople. His first teacher was an Italian sculptor and woodcarver who was living on Corfu. In 1805, he went to Rome where he enrolled at the Accademia di San Luca and studied with Antonio Canova. After returning to Corfu, he participated in creating an "Academy of Sciences", sponsored by the French government. In 1811, he opened a private art school; the first such modern school to be established in Greece. When Corfu became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1815, Lord High Commissioner Thomas Maitland transformed the school into the "Public Academy of Fine Arts". By 1819, it had eighty students. The following year, Prosalentis was awarded the Order of St Michael and St George. The painter Dionysios Vegias was one of his pupils. In 1824, when Lord Guilford created the Ionian Academy, Prosalentis was one of the first to be offered a teaching position there. He accepted, but declined to take a salary, suggesting that the money be spent on making copies of the Elgin Marbles and other works that had been removed from the Parthenon, and using them for educational or restorative work. He eventually received numerous free copies, creating scholarships from the money saved. Although not a wealthy man, he often gave private lessons for only the cost of materials and transportation. Eventually, casting and other foundry work damaged his health and he died in 1837, at the age of fifty-three. In addition to his own sculpting, he also made sketches for works by other sculptors and pedestal panels for several monuments and busts. He also did some painting, mostly of a religious nature. Many of his works have been lost or destroyed. In addition to his namesake, Pavlos (mentioned above), his son Spyridon, grandson Αιμίλιος Προσαλέντης, and granddaughters, Όλγα Προσαλέντη and Ελένη Προσαλέντη were also artists. • Illustration — Statue of Sir Frederick Adam, at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, Corfu
Identity
Identity
Pavlos Prosalentis is recorded with the occupation sculptor. Recorded as painter and sculptor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1784
Pavlos Prosalentis was born on 28 January 1784.
1837
Pavlos Prosalentis died on 1 February 1837.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Pavlos Prosalentis”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q12883316: Pavlos Prosalentis
General reference · Wikidata
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.Ionian Sculpture @ the National Gallery of Athens.
- 2.Brief biography @ the National Gallery of Athens.
- 3.Arta Greece. Βέγιας Διονύσιος – Dionysios Vegias [1810-1884]. 11 May 2014.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- "Pavlos Prosalentis, the elder", in: Stelios Lydakis (Ed.), The Greek painters vol.4, Dictionary of Greek painters and engravers (16th-20th century), Melissa, Athens, p.367
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
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 16 August 2026.
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