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The most important artistic movement ofGreek art in the 19th century wasacademic realism, often called in Greece "theMunich School" (Greek:Σχολή του Μονάχου) because of the strong influence from theRoyal Academy of Fine Arts of Munich (German:Münchner Akademie der Bildenden Künste),[1] where many Greek artists trained. The Munich School painted the same sort of scenes in the same sort of style as Western European academic painters in several countries, and did generally not attempt to incorporate Byzantine stylistic elements into their work.
The creation ofromantic art inGreece can be explained mainly due to the particular relationships that were created between recently liberated Greece (1830) andBavaria duringKing Otto's years (see:Kingdom of Greece). In this period theGreek state was encouraging young artists to study at theRoyal Academy of Fine Arts inMunich and in particular studypainting.[2] In addition, after centuries of Ottoman rule, few opportunities existed for young artist in Greece itself, immediately after independence, so studying abroad was imperative for them. Munich was an important international center for the arts and was the place where the majority of Greek artists of the 19th century would choose to study; a minority would go toParis. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry, giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" of painting. Many of these young artists later returned to Greece to teach at thePolytechnic School and laterAthens School of Fine Arts, where they would transmit their artistic experiences. Some of them, likeNikolaus Gysis, chose to remain in Munich, the so-calledAthens on theIsar.[3]
The works of the Munich school painters are characterized by an expert but over-use of colours that would overshadow the figures' expressions. Scenes were depicted in a pompous and theatrical way, although not lacking in emotional tension. Inacademic realism the imperative is theethography, the representation of urban and/or rural life with a special attention in the depiction of architectural elements, the traditional cloth and the various objects. Munich School painters were specialized onportraiture,landscape painting andstill life.
Artists belonging to the Munich School include the first painters of free Greece, such asTheodoros Vryzakis (1814–1878) andDionysios Tsokos (1820–1862). According to other art critics, the latter belongs more to theHeptanese School. Both of them draw their subjects from theGreek War of Independence in 1821, focusing on idealised ideas on theGreek Revolution and not giving much attention to the violent and tragic aspects of a war. Even more dramatic in their depictions were the laterKonstantinos Volanakis (1837–1907) andIoannis Altamouras (1852–1878), who were focused more on the naval battles of the1821 Revolution.[1]
Apart fromVolanakis, the main representatives of this artistic movement were painters from the second half of the 19th century, such asNikiphoros Lytras (1832–1904),Nikolaos Gysis (1842–1901),Georgios Iacovidis (1853–1907) andGeorgios Roilos (1867–1928). In his mature career Roilos went beyond the principles of the Munich School and introduced impressionism into Greek painting.Gysis stayed at the Academy in Germany while the others have returned to teach at theAthens School of Fine Arts. Their teaching and artistry have marked the 19th-century artistic era in Greece.[2]
Nikiphoros Lytras is considered the pope of Greek painting and the major iconographer of Greek life during the 19th century. Paintings such asThe milkman orThe awaiting consist reference points inGreek art.Gysis worked mainly onethography while at the maturity of his career he shifted towards the iconography of visions, allegories and symbolisms. The paintings ofGeorgios Iacovidis consisted mainly ofportraits and scenes depicting children. The latter was the founder and first curator of theNational Gallery of Greece inAthens.[1]
Other painters includeEpameinondas Thomopoulos (1878–1976),Ioannis Koutsis (1860−1953),Stylianos Miliadis (1881−1965),Nikolaos Vokos (1854–1902),Ioannis Zacharias (1845–?) andPolychronis Lembesis (1848–1913). Influences ofacademic realism can also be seen in the work of many Greek artists such asSpyridon Vikatos (1878–1960),Nikolaos Davis (1883–1967),Thalia Flora-Karavia (1871–1960),Ioannis Doukas (1841–1916) andEktor Doukas (1886–1969).[2][4]
The end of the movement started when some Greek painters after the mid-19th century such asPericlis Pantazis (1849–1884) departed from academic realism towards impressionism and the final end occurred when expressionistNikolaos Lytras (1883–1927), Georgios Roilos, andKonstantinos Parthenis (1878–1967) started to teach at the Athens School of Fine Arts.[1]
