Summary
Manuel Panselinos (Greek: Μανουήλ Πανσέληνος) was a Byzantine painter and writer of the Palaeologan Renaissance, known for introducing pathos into frescos, murals and especially icons from the 13th and 14th centuries. He was active in the region of Macedonia, and was widely considered to be the most prominent and influential figure of the palaeologan renaissance and the Macedonian school of painting centered at the Empire's second-largest city, Thessaloniki.[1]
Manuel Panselinos | |
|---|---|
 Fresco of enthroned Jesus by Panselinos | |
| Born | Immanuel Panselinos late 13th century Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Byzantine Empire |
| Died | early 14th century Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Byzantine Empire |
| Known for | Iconography and hagiography |
| Notable work | Mount Athos: Protaton Church (13th century) Lavra Monastery (13th century) Vatopedi Monastery (14th century) |
| Movement | Palaeologan Renaissance and Macedonian school |
Biography edit
Manuel Panselinos was born in the late 13th century in Thessaloniki. His primary works were iconography and frescos. His works can be found in several monasteries of Mount Athos: Vatopedi, Megisti Lavra, and the Protaton Church in Karyes. His most important work is the mural painting of the church of the Protaton. His contemporaries were Georgios Kalliergis, Michael Astrapas, and Eutychios Astrapas. Some historians believe Kalliergis was one of his students due to the similarity in painting styles.[2]
However, the tradition ascribing the Athonite paintings to Manuel has only been attested in the 17th century, and it is only in the 18th century that Dionysios of Fourna claimed that he was born in Thessaloniki, and to have derived some of the rules in his own work from him.[3] Manuel has sometimes been tentatively equated with members of the Astrapas family, but without firm evidence.[3]
Stylistically, Art historians have pointed out a distinctive style in Manuel's works and striking similarities between various paintings attributed to him: their soft colors, the symmetrical rendering of the figures, and the uniqueness of form in compositions and proportions, especially in faces.[4]
Scientific research edit
Research on Athos has shown all purported paintings of his to be genuine works of Manuel, including (but not limited to) the frescoes in the Protaton and the outer Narthex of the Katholikon of Vatopedi, the head of Saint Nicholas in the Katholikon of the Great Lavra (the body has been retouched), the portable icon of Saint Demetrios in the Great Lavra, and the two icons of Saint George in Vatopedi. Authentic works of his have also been located in monuments in Thessaloniki and other cities in Greek Macedonia.[4][5]
Gallery edit
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Jesus as a child, Protaton, Karyes -
John the Baptist, Protaton, Karyes -
Jesus and Samaritan woman, Protaton, Karyes -
Presentation of Mary, Protaton, Karyes -
Saint Demetrius, Protaton, Karyes -
Saint Eustace, Protaton, Karyes -
Fresco from Saint Euthymius chapel, Thessaloniki -
Saint John the Evangelist, Protaton, Karyes -
Saints Mercurius and Artemius of Antioch, Protaton, Karyes -
Saints Theodore Stratelates and Theodore Tyron, Protaton, Karyes -
Resurrection of Christ, Protaton, Karyes -
Crucifixion of Jesus, Protaton, Karyes -
Jesus and the Cross, Protaton, Karyes
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Tsigaridas, Euth. N. (2003). Manuel Panselinos from the Holy Church of the Protaton. Athens, Greece: Hagioritiki Estia. p. 5.
- ^ Alin, Trifa Razvan (March 2011). "MASTER MANUIL PANSELINOS AND THE MACEDONIAN SCHOOL OF PAINTING" (PDF). European Journal of Science and Theology. 7 (1): 13–23 – via European Journal of Science and Theology website.
- ^ a b Cutler, Anthony (1991). "Panselinos, Manuel". In Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1572. ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- ^ a b athosweblog (2009-06-04). "813 – book: Manuel Panselinos 1956". Athos – Agios Oros. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ Daniilia, Sister; Tsakalof, Andreas; Bairachtari, Kyriaki; Chryssoulakis, Yannis (2007-12-01). "The Byzantine wall paintings from the Protaton Church on Mount Athos, Greece: tradition and science". Journal of Archaeological Science. 34 (12): 1971–1984. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2007.01.016. ISSN 0305-4403.