Theodore Poulakis

{{Short description|Greek painter (1622–1692)}} {{Infobox artist | name = Theodore Poulakis | image = File:Poulakis Theodoros - The Hymn to the Virgin, "Eπί Σοί Xαίρει" ("In Thee Rejoiceth...") - Google Art Project.jpg | caption = ''Hymn to the Virgin'' | birth_name = | birth_date = 1622 | birth_place = Chania, Republic of Venice | death_date = {{Death year and age|1692|1622}} | death_place = Corfu, Ionian Islands, Republic of Venice | known_for = Iconography and hagiography | training = | movement = Cretan school <br/> Heptanese school | notable_works = ''St. John the Baptist'' <br/> ''St. Spyridon and scenes from his life''<br/> ''The Nativity of Christ'' | patrons = | awards = | website = }}

'''Theodore Poulakis''' ({{langx|el|Θεόδωρος Πουλάκης}}; 1622–1692) was a Greek Renaissance painter and teacher. He is considered the father of the Heptanese school and one of the most prolific painters of Venetian Crete. Poulakis was a member of the Cretan school, his contemporary was Emmanuel Tzanes. Emmanuel Tzanes and Poulakis were active painters of the Cretan School until Candia, went to war with the Ottomans around 1649. Candia finally fell after twenty years of siege in 1669. Poulakis settled on the island of Corfu. Stephanos Tzangarolas was another famous painter in Corfu around the same period. Poulakis's works are likened to Andreas Pavias and Georgios Klontzas. Poulakis works exhibit qualities of the Venetian school. Over 130 of his paintings have survived and can be found all over the world.<ref>{{cite book |last= Bigham |first= Steven |author-link= |date= 2000|title= Heroes of the Icon: People, Places, Events |url=|location=New York NY |publisher= Oakwood publications |page=136 |isbn= }}</ref><ref name="times">{{cite book |last1=Hatzidakis |first1= Manolis |last2= Drakopoulou |first2= Eugenia|title= Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume B|publisher=Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E. |date=1997 |pages=304–317 |url=|isbn= |name-list-style=amp}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pandektis.ekt.gr/dspace/handle/10442/163812 |title= Poulakis (Pulachi, Pulaki) Theodoros (Theodoro, Thodoro) |publisher= Institute for Neohellenic Research |author= Eugenia Drakopoulou |date= February 10, 2022 |accessdate= February 10, 2022}}</ref>

==History== Poulakis was born in Chania Crete. He was the son of Antonios. He was married and had two children Vittirous and Eleni. By the age of twenty-four, he was living in Venice. He stayed there for thirteen years until 1657. His son was baptized in Venice in 1646 and his daughter two years later. He was a member of the Quaranta council. Famous Greek painters Philotheos Skoufos, Emmanuel Tzanes, Konstantinos Tzanes, and Ioannis Moskos were all living in Venice around that time. Poulakis was a member of the Greek Brotherhood of Venice in 1654.<ref>Hatzidakis, 1997, pp 304-317</ref>

In 1657, Poulakis migrated to Corfu. He signed a six-year contract to teach painting to Marinos Damistras son Tzorzi. According to the contract, Tzorzi had to follow Poulakis anywhere he went including Venice. Philotheos Skoufos was a witness for Poulakis in a legal matter around 1666. Poulakis traveled to Cephalonia where he painted. By 1671, he was back in Venice one year later he was voted a member of the Quaranta e Gionta. In 1673, he took part in a baptism. By 1675, he was back in Corfu where he lived out the remainder of his life. He died on November 16, 1692.<ref>Hatzidakis, 1997, pp 304-317</ref>

==Painting style== {{multiple image | align = left | image1 = About you rejoices by G.Klontzas (16th c.).jpg | width1 = 180 | alt1 = | caption1 = All Creation rejoices in thee, '''Georgios Klontzas (1530-1608)''' | image2 = Poulakis Theodoros - The Hymn to the Virgin, "Eπί Σοί Xαίρει" ("In Thee Rejoiceth...") - Google Art Project.jpg | width2 = 180 | alt2 = | caption2 = The Hymn to the Virgin, "Eπί Σοί Xαίρει In Thee Rejoiceth '''Theodore Poulakis''' | footer = }}

Some of his paintings escaped the traditional maniera greca and exhibit fuller shapes and variations of color. His work ''Hymn to the Virgin'' followed the Greek tradition and is comparable to Andreas Pavias ''Crucifixion of Jesus''. Clearly, both artists try to fill the canvas with figures. Both of the paintings follow the traditional Greek style. Another painting by Greek painter Georgios Klontzas, ''All Creation Rejoices in Thee'' closely resembles ''Hymn to the Virgin'' where the virgin is at the Center of the icon and countless figures occupy the iconic space. Georgios Klontzas clearly inspired the work of Poulakis.<ref>{{cite book |last= Vikan |first= Gary |author-link= |date= 1988|title= Icon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3n9OAAAAYAAJ&q=Theodore+Poulakis+biography |location=Baltimore, Md. |publisher= Trust for Museum Exhibitions, Walters Art Gallery |page= 59 |isbn= }}</ref><ref>Hatzidakis, 1997, pp 304-317</ref>

He is one the fathers of the Heptanese school due to his transition from painting styles. He does not always observe the traditional lines and shapes of maniera greca. His paintings ''Adam and Eve'', ''Noah's Ark'', and the Birth of Isaac are examples of the transitional period of the Cretan school to the more refined sophisticated art of the Heptanese school. Clearly, Michael Damaskinos experimented with this transition in his ''The Last Supper'', and ''The Wedding of Cana''.<ref>Hatzidakis, 1997, pp 304-317</ref> Theodore Poulakis takes his viewers from the Cretan school to the Heptanese school but Michael Damaskinos began playing with the idea one hundred years before Poulakis. El Greco never successfully converted the Cretan school to his stylistic transitions. Poulakis continued painting until the time of his death.<ref>Hatzidakis, 1997, pp 304-317</ref>

==Gallery== ===Cretan School=== <gallery mode=packed heights="160px"> File:Theodore Poulakis In Thee Rejoiceth.jpg|In Thee Rejoiceth File:Icon with the Virgin of the Tree of Jesse. 1666 (8384481474).jpg|Virgin, Tree of Jesse File:Theodore Poulakis Icon.jpg|''St. John the Baptist '' File:S. Nicholas by T.Poulakis (?), 17th c.jpg|Saint Nicholas File:Poulakis Theodoros - St Spyridon and scenes from his life - Google Art Project.jpg|''St. Spyridon and scenes from his life'' File:Palaiokastritsa monastery25.JPG|Palaiokastritsa monastery, Corfu Icon of the St. George File:Saint John - Theodore Poulakis.jpg|Saint John File:Poulakis Theodoros-The ascension of prophen Elijah and scenes from his life (borders).jpg|The Ascension of Prophet Elijah and Scenes from his life. </gallery>

===Heptanese School===

<gallery mode=packed heights="160px"> File:Poulakis Theodoros - The archangel Michael - Google Art Project.jpg|''Archangel Michael'' File:Theodore Poulakis Adam and God.png|God Creates Adam File:Theodore Poulakis Adam and Eve.png|God Creates Eve File:Theodore Poulakis Adam and Eve.jpg|Adam and Eve File:Noah's Ark by T.Poulakis after engraving of J.Sadeler (17th c.).jpg|Noah's Ark File:Theodore Poulakis Birth of Isaac.jpg|Birth of Isaac File:Theodoros Poulakis - The Nativity of Christ - WGA18226.jpg|The Nativity of Christ File:Theodore Poulakis Moses.jpg|Death of Moses </gallery>

==Notable works== *In Thee Rejoiceth (Poulakis) *Adoration of Joseph, ''Collection Sterbini Rome, Italy'' *The Four Knights of the Apocalypse ''Collection by S. Amberg Switzerland'' *Onuphrius Entrhoned ''Livorno, Italy'' *John the Baptist as Child ''Sotheby's London, United Kingdom'' *John the Theologian ''Lefkosia, Cyprus'' *Crucifixion, ''Collection of Abou-Adal Beirut, Lebanon'' *All Thee Rejoices ''Private Collection Spain'' *Noah's Ark (Poulakis) *The Archangel Michael (Poulakis) *The Fall of Man (Poulakis) *The Miracle of the Holy Belt *The Birth of the Virgin Mary (Poulakis)

==References== {{commons|Theodore Poulakis }} {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book |last1=Hatzidakis |first1= Manolis |title= Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume A|publisher=Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E. |date=1987 |pages= |url=https://www.openbook.gr/ellines-zografoi-meta-tin-alosi/|isbn= |name-list-style=amp}} *{{cite book |last1=Hatzidakis |first1= Manolis |last2= Drakopoulou |first2= Eugenia|title= Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume B|publisher=Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E. |date=1997 |pages= |url=https://www.openbook.gr/ellines-zografoi-meta-tin-alosi/|isbn= |name-list-style=amp}} *{{cite book |last1=Drakopoulou|first1=Eugenia|title= Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume C|publisher=Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E. |date=2010 |pages= |url=https://www.openbook.gr/ellines-zografoi-meta-tin-alosi/|isbn= |name-list-style=amp}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poulakis, Theodore}} Category:1622 births Category:1692 deaths Category:Cretan Renaissance painters Category:People from Chania Category:17th-century Greek painters Category:Painters of the Heptanese school Category:Greek Baroque painters Category:Greek icon painters Category:Theodore Poulakis