Painting
The lack of any comprehensive archaeological record of ancient Greek painting has left art historians to largely rely on the painted decoration of terracotta pots as evidence of the development of this art.
There are a few exceptions, such as the famous frescoes unearthed on Santorini and which are now housed in the National Archaeological Museum (pi20) in Athens. These works were painted in fresco technique using yellow, blue, red and black pigments, with some details added after the plaster had dried. Stylistically, the frescoes are similar to the paintings of Minoan Crete.
Greek painting came into its own during the Byzantine period. Byzantine churches were usually decorated with frescoes on a dark blue background with a bust of Christ in the dome, the four Gospel writers in the pendentives supporting the dome and the Virgin and Child in the apse. They also featured scenes from the life of Christ (Annunciation, Nativity, Baptism, Entry into Jerusalem, Crucifixion and Transfiguration) and figures of the saints. In the later centuries the scenes in churches and icons involved more detailed narratives, including cycles of the life of the Virgin and the miracles of Christ. The 'Cretan school' of icon painting, influenced by the Italian Renaissance and artists fleeing to Crete after the fall of Constantinople, combined technical brilliance and dramatic richness.
Painting after the Byzantine period became more secular in nature, with 19th-century Greek painters specialising in portraits, nautical themes and representations of the War of Independence. Major 19th-century painters included Dionysios Tsokos, Andreas Kriezis, Theodoros Vryzakis, Nikiforos Lytras, Konstantinos Volanakis and Nicholas Gyzis. Gyzis' paintings created during the time of the fascination with the 'Great Idea' of a new Greek empire are particularly interesting.
From the first decades of the 20th century, artists such as Konstantinos Parthenis (one of the greatest modern Greek artists), Konstantinos Kaleas and later the expressionist George Bouzianis were able to use their heritage and at the same time assimilate various developments in modern art.
Significant artists of the '30s generation were cubist Nikos Hatzikyri-akos-Ghikas, surrealist Nikos Engonopoulos, Yiannis Tsarouhis and Panayiotis Tetsis.
Other leading artists include Yannis Moralis, Giorgos Zongolopoulos (with his trademark umbrella sculptures), Dimitris Mytaras, Yannis Tsoklis, abstract artists Yannis Gaitis and Jannis Spyropoulos, Christos Caras and Alekos Fassianos.
Many internationally known artists live abroad, including Paris-based Pavlos, known for his distinctive use of paper, and kinetic artist Takis. New York-based artists include neon installation artist Stephen Antonakos and sculptor/painter Chryssa.
In the past 25 years modern Greek painting has become a serious collector's pursuit. Lytras' 19th-century painting The Naughty Grandchild set a record for a Greek artist when it was sold for more than €1 million at a London auction in 2006.
Athens has a burgeoning contemporary arts scene, with regular shows by local and international artists at a host of galleries centred mosdy on Psyrri and Kolonaki. The National Art Gallery (pl22) in Athens and the Rhodes Art Gallery have the most extensive collections of 20th-century art. The annual Art Athina expo showcases contemporary Greek artists; a much-anticipated new Museum of Contemporary Art is being built at the former Fix brewery in Athens; and the capital hosted its inaugural biennial art show in 2007.
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