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Antiquarianism and philhellenism on display, which will be presented in a setting created by Chloe Obolensky and Andreas Georgiadis expressly for this exhibition, which is curated by art historian and archaeologist Mrs Fani-Maria Tsigakou and Professor Nicholas Chr. Stampolidis.
Mr Thanassis Martinos and Mrs Marina Martinos
Ambassador Mrs. Michalopoulou, a familiar name and face at our Chamber, has been a frequent participant The 1821 Greek War of Independence and the allure of ancient Greece inspired 19th-century European artists to depict that war’s battles, heroes and ideals. This grand oeuvre is showcased in the excellent collection amassed by Thanassis and Marina Martinos, on exhibit for the first time, at the Museum of Cycladic Art, together with ancient masterpieces. A RARE and splendid collection is being unveiled to the public for the first time in the Stathatos Mansion wing of the Museum of Cycladic Art, introducing an international audience not just to masterpieces but to a robust body of work dedicated to the Greek War of Independence as well. In an exhibition that opens on 10 December, works from the Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection will shed light on the 1821 Revolution against Ottoman rule and on the power of the philhellenic spirit in an exhibition titled “Antiquarianism and Philhellenism.” The show comprises 60 pieces from the collection, to be shown alongside five ancient artworks and a Roman mould. The splendour of Greece’s ancient legacy and the nation’s struggle for independence in 1821 inspired intellectuals and artists everywhere and produced everything from poetry by Victor Hugo to the artworks
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The notion of the Greek Revolution in romantic Paris “The parallel exhibition of selected ancient sculptures from the classical period of ancient Greece and the philhellenic works of art demonstrates how the Europeans of that time believed in the continuity of ancient Greece,” Mrs Marina Martinos tells Blue. “Ancient Greece came back in vogue in Europe thanks to the Greek Revolution.” The exhibition comes at an important time in the historical narrative of modern Greece and Hellenism, as it coincides with the bicentenary of the War of Independence. It will be interesting to see how art can provide food for thought and shed light on this anniversary, as well as on Greece’s enduring ties with other countries. “The exhibition comprises mainly works that were produced in France, but there are also works from Germany and the UK. The notion of the Greek Revolution was a romantic one for the Europeans and
“The Naval Battle of Navarino” by the English painter George Philip Reinagle
