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Pantelis G. Zografos was
born in the port town of Kymi on the Island of Evvia,
Greece in 1878. His father; George Zografos and his
grandfather Pantoleon Zografos were both iconographers
who sometimes followed work to different areas of
Greece.
The young Pantelis grew up in the Plaka area of old
Athens around several generations of iconographers. He
often accompanied his father on trips to restore icons
in the monasteries and churches of Greece. His
experiences inspired a passion in him for Byzantine art
and culture. He pursued his studies in this field and
earned a diploma at the School of fine arts in Athens.
In 1897 as a young man, he returned to Evvia and took a
job painting icons in a small church in the village of
Oxylithos. As was the custom of the time he boarded with
a host family and at lunch time one of the daughters of
the family was sent to serve his lunch. The family no
doubt saw him as a potential groom for their older
daughter, but he has his eye on the younger Kaliopi and
they were soon married.
During the next decade they had two daughters and three
sons. Kaliopi stayed in Oxylithos, raising her five
children amongst family while Pantelis continued to work
and travel.
1902 finds him in Mount Athos; a Northern peninsula
dedicated to monasteries and churches. After a short
break with his family, he travels to Russia where he
studies with world famous teachers of byzantine art.
After two years he returns to paint beautiful icons of
Saint Barbara, Saint Athanasios and the Last Supper.
Around 1912 he travels to Egypt where he has several
exhibitions and gives lectures.
Between 1920 and 1925 he is appointed as art teacher at
the high school of Sparta so that he can also work
nearby at the historic ares of Mystras. then in 1926 he
is given a possition at the kalambaka high school while
he also works at monasteries the Meteora region.
In 1927 he takes an appointment at City College, New
York City as professor of Byzantine art and culture and
paints, writes freelance articles and exhibits his work.
He returns to Greece in 1933 where he paints for
collectors as well as working to produce frescoes for
churches.
In 1935 while working on a high scaffold in the church
of St Marina in Theseon, Athens he had a stroke and
hours later he died at the age of 57.
Source: Lotus Gallery Art |
