Fragkos Katelanos

Fragkos Katelanos
Christ Pantocrator
Born	1510-1520 Thebes
Died	1590 Kozani
Nationality	Greek

Fragkos Katelanos (Greek: Φράγγος Κατελλάνος, 1510-1520 - 1590), also known as Franco Katelanos. He was a Greek painter. He specialized in icon and fresco-painting. His work resembles the Byzatine Syle of painting with attributes of the Cretan School. His work coincided with Theophanes the Cretan geographically and chronologically. His frescos can be found in different parts of Greece. His signed work can be found at the Monastery of Great Lavra at Mount Athos. He is one of few Greek artists that were not associated with Venice or Crete. He mainly worked out of Ioannina. He was very popular during his time. Theophanes the Cretan was also associated with Mount Athos but he traveled back to Crete. He also spread the Cretan School to mainland Greece. Both Theophanes the Cretan, Katelanos influenced famous artist Dionysius of Fourna. Katelanos's frescos can be found all over Greece some areas include: Kozani, Ioannina, Kastoria and the Monastery of Varlaam in Meteora.^[1][2][3][4]

History[]

Katelanos was born in Thiva during the Ottoman occupation of Greece. He was a fresco and icon painter. Not much is known about his life. He had a successful painting workshop. His workshop was centered around Ioannina. He is one of few known painters that operated in Mainland Greece. There is no record of him in Venice or Crete. He painted frescos in churches at Mount Athos, Kastoria, Kozani, Ioannina, and the Monastery of Varlaam in Meteora. His signature was recorded at Mount Athos in 1560. His work is dated between 1539 and 1590.^[5]

He painted primarily in the Byzantine style but due to his exposure to the work of the Cretan School. He can fall into both categories. Some monasteries preferred the classical style of Byzantine fresco painting. Other painters who painted frescos in the Byzantine style were Theodore Apsevdis, Ioannis Pagomenos, Manuel Panselinos, Theophanes the Cretan, Michael Astrapas and Eutychios. His works influenced countless artists. His frescos are well maintained and are over five hundred years old. ^[6]

Gallery[]

• 

  Saint Demetrios

• 

  Saint Sebastian

• 

  Betrayal of Judas

Notable Works[]

Frescos[]

• Chapel of Agios Nikolaos, The Monastery of Megisti Lavra Mount Athos
• Catholic (only main church) of the Monastery of Myrtia, 1539, Lake Trichonida, Aetolia-Acarnania
• Monastery of the Philanthropists (dome of the main temple and wall drums, upper part of a narthex), 1542, Island, Ioannina
• Katholikon of Barlaam monastery (main temple), 1548, Meteora

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Hatzidakis, Manolis (1987). Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume A. Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E.

• Hatzidakis, Manolis & Drakopoulou, Eugenia (1997). Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume B. Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E.

• Drakopoulou, Eugenia (2010). Greek painters after the fall (1450-1830) Volume C. Center for Modern Greek Studies E.I.E.