Kostandin and Athanas Zografi

The brothers Kostandin Zografi and Athanas Zografi were Albanian painters of the 18th century from Dardhë, in modern Korçë District, southern Albania (then Ottoman Empire).^[1][2] They are regarded as the most prominent painters of the Albanian post-Byzantine icon art of the 18th century and generally of the region of Epirus.^[3] Along with David Selenicasi, Kostandin Shpataraku, Terpo Zografi, Efthim Zografi, Gjon Çetiri, Naum Çetiri, Gjergj Çetiri, Nikolla Çetiri, and Ndin Çetiri^[4] they represent the School of Korçë painting.^[5][6]

Works

The Zografi brothers have decorated with their paintings several Orthodox churches and monasteries throughout central and southern modern Albania, as well as Mount Athos.^[3] In particular, their paintings and frescoes in Moscopole, especially in the church St. Athanasius (Albanian: Kisha e Shën Thanasit)^[7][8] and the monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Vithkuq are of unique value. They were active in the period 1736-1783 and usually signed their works in Greek "By the hands of Konstantinos and Athanasios from Korytsa (Korçë)" (Greek: Δια χειρός Κωνσταντίνου και Αθανασίου από Κορυτσά).^[9] They signed their works not only using their names, but also the word Shqiptar (English: Albanian), which is the endonym Albanians use for themselves.^[1] Their surname, Zografi, means "painter" in Greek: Ζωγράφος, Zografos.

Technique

The work of the Zografi brothers has a marked tendency towards the baroque, with linear depictions of the religious figures, and at the same time adopting an ornamental style using a wide variety of brown and bright colors.^[10][11] The main colors used in their works were white, bright blue, and dark red.^[12]

Zografi brothers together with David Selenicasi continued the tradition of the Palaeologan art that was revived at Mount Athos during 18th century.^[13]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ndarurinze, Renate (2008) (in German). Albanien entdecken: Auf den Spuren Skanderbegs. Trescher Verlag. pp. 290. ISBN 3897941252. http://books.google.com/books?id=_ONjVWRhAKcC. "Auffalend ist, dass ihre Werke nicht nur mit ihren Namen, sondern auch mit dem Zusatz Shqiptar(Albaner) underzeichneten-ein Hinweis auf ihre Nazionalitat, der gleichzeitig eine Abgrenzung une Stold auf ihre Herkunft, erkennen lasst." 
2. ^ Elsie, Robert (2001). A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology and folk culture. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. pp. 119. ISBN 1850655707. http://books.google.com/books?id=N_IXHrXIsYkC. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Kirchhainer p. 153
4. ^ Popa, Th., Piktorët Grabovarë Çetiri nga familja Katro, Bul. shk. shoq. 3. 1960.
5. ^ Popa, Th., Piktorët mesjetarë shqiptarë, Tiranë 1961
6. ^ Popa, Th., Piktorët korçarë Kostandin e Athanas Zografi dhe freskat e tyne me skenat e Apokalipsit, Bul. shk. shoq. nr. 1, 1959.
7. ^ Wiener Archiv für Geschichte des Slawentums und Osteuropas. Universität Wien. Institut für Osteuropäische Geschichte und Südostforschung. 1989. (German)
8. ^ E. Pavlidou, N. Civici, E. Caushi, L. Anastasiou, T. Zorba, E. Hatzikraniotis, K. M. Paraskevopoulos. Study of Painting Materials and Techniques in the 18th Century St.Athanasius Church in Moschopolis, Albania. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
9. ^ Kirchhainer p. 152
10. ^ Kirchhainer p. 188
11. ^ "History and Spiritual Tradition". Orthodox Autocephalus Church of Albania. http://www.orthodoxalbania.org/English/Brief%20History/BH%20Art2.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-04. 
12. ^ Kirchhainer p. 189
13. ^ Rousseva, Ralitsa (2003). "Iconographic Characteristics of the Churches in Moschopolis and Vithkuqi (Albania)" (PDF). Makedonika 35. http://media.ems.gr/ekdoseis/makedonika/makedonika_35/ekd_pemk_35_Russeva.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-04. 

Sources

• [|Kirchhainer, Karin] (2003). "Das Ossuarium des Petrus- und Paulus- Kloster in Vithkuq (Nordepirus) und seine Freskendekoration (1750)" (in German) (PDF). Makedonika 34 (04): 149–208. http://media.ems.gr/ekdoseis/makedonika/makedonika_34/ekd_pemk_34_Kirchhainer.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-04. 

External links

• Karin Kirchhainer: Die Malereien in den Gewölbezonen der Kuppelbasiliken von Voskopoje (Moschopolis). Acta Studia Albanica 1, 2007, S. 60–96
• Paintings on Deutsche Fotothek.

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