The exhibition “L’oro dipinto. El Greco e la pittura tra Creta e Venezia” was officially inaugurated on April 30. This remarkable exhibition of Cretan icons and other religious artifacts highlights the enduring relationship between Greece and Venice. It features significant works from various museums in Italy, Greece, and other countries.

The exhibition presents the work of Doménikos Theotokópoulos (El Greco) and the painting tradition that developed between Crete and Venice from the Late Byzantine period to modern times. Through rare icons, portable paintings, documents, and objects, the exhibition showcases the role of the Cretan School as a bridge between the Eastern Orthodox tradition and Western Renaissance and post-Renaissance art. It also sheds light on the cultural dialogue that flourished in Venice, where Greek artists and scholars played a decisive role in shaping the shared European cultural heritage.

The Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice participates in the event, contributing important icons from the collection of the Museum of Icons, including works by Michael Damaskinos, Georgios Klontzas, and other renowned iconographers of the Cretan School.

At the press conference, the President of the Hellenic Institute, Professor Vasileios Koukousas, emphasized the vitality of the Greek community of Venice. During the period of Ottoman rule in Greece, Greeks found in the city a safe haven that allowed them to develop their culture, faith, arts, and Greek letters. He also referred to the enduring relationship between Greece and Venice, the pivotal role of Hellenism, and the importance of the Institute in the cultural and intellectual life of Venice. He underlined that the Institute serves as a bridge of culture between Greece and Italy and mentioned the participation of the Institute in the exhibition.

The event was addressed by Mariacristina Gribaudi, President of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, Chiara Squarcina, Director of the Fondazione, the Ambassador of Greece to Italy, Eleni Sourani, the Honorary Consul of Greece in Venice, Bruno Bernardi, and the Director of the Museo Correr, Andrea Bellieni. Olympia Vikatou, Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, read the greeting of the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni.

The event was also attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy and Exarch of Southern Europe, Dimitrios Zafeiropoulos, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Venice, and architect Gherado degli Azzoni Avogadro Malvasia.

The exhibition will remain open until the end of September 2025.

P.S. You can find more about the exhibition “L’oro dipinto. El Greco e la pittura tra Creta e Venezia” at the following links:

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