Emmanuel Tzanes (
Greek: Εμμανουήλ Τζάνες; 1610 – 28 March 1690), also known as Bounialis (
Greek: Μπουνιαλής) Emmanuel Tzane-Bounialis, Emmanuel Zane, and Emmanuel Tzane, was a
GreekRenaissance painter, author, clergyman, and educator. He spent the latter half of his life in Venice, where he was parish priest of the church of
San Giorgio dei Greci and a member of the
Flanginian School run by the city's Greek Confraternity. Tzanes painted in the style of the
Cretan School, influenced by contemporary trends in
Venetian painting. His known extant works, over 130 in number, can be found in public foundations, private collections, churches and monasteries in Greece. The most popular of these is The Holy Towel, finished in 1659. Tzanes was a collaborator with
Philotheos Skoufos, and brothers with the painter
Konstantinos Tzanes and the poet
Marinos Tzanes.[1][2][3][4][5]
History
Born in
Rethymno, Crete, Tzanes became a priest sometime before 1637. After the Ottomans
conquered Rethymno in 1646, he fled Crete and spent eight years in Corfu. Here he painted numerous icons, sometimes in collaboration with
Philotheos Skoufos. Tzanes moved to Venice in early 1655, remaining there for the rest of his life. In March of that year he applied to become the priest of
San Giorgio dei Greci, offering to paint the church for free, but was initially turned down in favor of Skoufos. Skoufos vacated the position in 1660 and was succeeded by Tzanes, who served for the next twenty years. During his tenure he conducted twenty-six marriages.[6] He was also the supervisor at the
Flanginian School of the Greek Confraternity in Venice.[7]
Over one hundred and thirty paintings by Tzanes survive, dating between 1636 and 1689. He served both Catholic and Greek Orthodox clients and produced works of all sizes, from small icons and triptychs to monumental paintings and sanctuary doors. Adhering to the
Cretan School style which he learned in Rethymno, his paintings are dated and often include
clients' portraits. His influence can be seen in works of the later
Heptanese School. Tzanes regularly painted icons of
Saint Alypios the Stylite, Saint Govdelaas the Persian,
Saint Demetrios on horseback, and the Virgin and Christ enthroned. His brother
Konstantinos Tzanes was also a painter and lived in Venice with him.[8][9]
Gallery
Portrait of Jesus
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child
Lamentation
St.George killing the dragon
St.Mark the Evangelist
Nicholas
Christ enthroned
Theodora
Saint Cyrille
Ladder of Divine Ascent
Miracle of Cincture
John Baptist
Lamentation of Christ
Timeline of artistic works
Crete
1636 Saint Spyridon (Correr Museum, Venice)
1640 Evangelism (Berlin State Museums)
1641 Theotokos Amolintos (Madonna and Child) (Museum of Zakynthos)
1644 The Tree of Jesse (Hellenic Institute of Venice)
1645 Theotokos Odigitria (Madonna and Child) (Holy Trinity Giudecca, Venice)
1645 Agios Antonios (Panagia ton Xenon, Corfu)
1646 Timios Prodromos (John the Baptist) (Church of Timios Prodromos, Kranidi)
Corfu
1648 Christ in Glory (Metropolitan Palace, Corfu)
1648 Saint Cyril (Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens)
1649 Agios Iason (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu)
1650 Agios
Sosipater (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu)
1650 Theotokos Enthroned (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu)
1651 Theotokos (Virgin) Madre della Consolazione (Monastery of Platytera, Corfu)
1654 Saint Cyril of Alexandria (Museum of Antivouniotissa)
1654 Agios (Saint) Ioannis o Damaskinos (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu)
1654 Saint Gregory of Palamas (Church of Saints Jason and Sosipatros, Corfu)
Tselenti-Papadopoulou, Niki G. (2002). Οι Εικονες της Ελληνικης Αδελφοτητας της Βενετιας απο το 16ο εως το Πρωτο Μισο του 20ου Αιωνα: Αρχειακη Τεκμηριωση [The Icons of the Greek Brotherhood of Venice from 1600 to First Half of the 20th Century]. Athens: Ministry of Culture Publication of the Archaeological Bulletin No. 81.
ISBN960-214-221-9.