Theodoros Vryzakis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 October 1814 (1814-10-19)[1] |
| Died | 6 December 1878 (1878-12-07) (aged 59) |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Education | School of Arts,Athens Royal Academy of Fine Arts,Munich |
| Known for | Painter and faculty member |
| Movement | Orientalist Munich School Genre art |
Theodoros Vryzakis (Greek:Θεόδωρος Βρυζάκης; 1814–1878) was a Greek painter, known mostly for his historical scenes. He was one of the founders of the "Munich School", composed of Greek artists who had studied in that city.
He grew up during the years of theGreek War of Independence. His father was hanged by theOttoman Army near the very beginning of the war, in 1821,[1] and he had to flee with his mother into the mountains.
By 1832, he was in an orphanage, where his artistic talent was discovered byFriedrich Thiersch, a scholar who had played a significant role in making a Bavarian prince (Otto) the new King of Greece. Thiersch took him to Munich, where he attended the "Panhellenion",[2] a school for orphans of the Greek revolution, founded by KingLudwig I. After completing his studies, he returned to Greece and enrolled at theAthens School of Fine Arts.[2]
In 1844, he returned to Munich on a scholarship and was admitted to theAcademy of Fine Arts.[1] His teachers there includedCarl Wilhelm von Heideck andPeter von Hess, both known for their support of Greek independence.[3] After graduation, he spent ten years travelling throughout Europe, including a two-year stay in Greece from 1848 to 1850. At the end of his travels, he exhibited some of his works relating to the Sieges ofMessolonghi at theExposition Universelle. Most of these canvases were destroyed by a fire in 1929.[1]
From 1861 to 1863, he worked inManchester, England, painting murals at theGreek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Manchester.[2] Four years later, he took part in a major exhibition at theGalerie Del Vecchio [de] in Leipzig.[1] He painted little during the last decade of his life, due to an eye ailment.[2] His death was due to heart disease. In his will, he left all of the works in his studio to theUniversity of Athens and 760Marks to repair the roof of theSalvatorkirche in Munich.[3] Many of his paintings were widely distributed in the form oflithographs.
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