Andreas Pavias

He lived and worked in Heraklion, Crete (referred to at the time by the Venetians as Candia) during the second half of the 15th century. In 1470 there was evidence he was teaching painting to children of nobles. He died between 1504 and 1512.

Like other contemporaries Cretan School painters painted pictures by following different styles and yielding various iconographic themes in the Byzantine and "italokritika" works. His works addressed Orthodox and Catholic doctrine. Main means of expression of an image, an object of reverence looked up positions both in churches and monasteries as well as in residential homes.

Considered a teacher, master of art and literature his clientele consisted of wealthy burghers and nobles. The project is small in number but high quality, but the artistic activity was so long it is likely to assume that even latent projects mainly western churches or in private collections. Archival documents in Venice provide information about the life of the painter in Heraklion, Crete, covering the period from 1470, appearing as a teacher of painting, until 1512 when he is recorded as already dead. The years 1471, 1473 and 1479 he was involved in economic affairs in Heraklion, where he lived. On April 23, 1480 signed as a witness: magister Andreas Pavias, penctor. 1481 rented a house (on Georgio Grin) in Vourgo Candia. In 1482 he signed a contract with Angelo Pitzamanos, to teach his son painting for five years. In the years 1482, 1483, 1486 and 1491 in the name refers to acts of purchase and sale and rental in Heraklion, from which it appears that it had considerable fortune. On October 24, 1492 by Andreas Pavias pentor signed a contract with Manousos Koukou, a resident of Heraklion, to teach his son painting for five years. In 1493 he was again involved in economic affairs in Heraklion. During the period of the years 1493-1505 we know that the Catholic Bishop Giovanni Battista Lagni commissioned an image of the Pieta in Crete, which is currently in Rossano.

On 23 May 1499, he agreed to teach painting for three years to Niccolo da Napoli, and on July 16 of the Andreas Pavias depentor same time signed an apprenticeship contract for four years with John Ploraio. On November 19, 1499 he agreed with Jewish Aquilo (Soulouma) to teach her son not only painting but also letters to eight years.

On 7 May 1500, he requested to be returned a picture of the Nativity Angel painter. In March of the same year again referred to economic matters. On July 26, 1500 handwritten signatures into a covenant said: I am the man (let) the Pavias (we) witness without specifying whether it is the painter. 1502 A. Pavias refers to a document relating to a financial matter and July 8, 1503 signed as a witness, magister Andreas Pavias, together with the painter Marco Amaranto. According to a document of 1504, he had purchased warehouse in Heraklion, the same year the painter, resident Vourgo Candia, promises to give his adoptive daughter Agnes considerable dowry: 500 hyperpyra and 10 gold ducats, which include the value of a house in Candia, gold, silver, gems, clothes, bed and jewelry.

On November 8, 1512 the painter has already died, a document refers to his widow Marietta. In 1514 again referred to as administrator of the estate of the painter's widow, which gives an area of the monastery of the Holy Spirit, she belonged and was outside the Vourgo Candia. The same Maria refers to document 1516.a.

Andreas Pavias was able to paint in a variety of styles. Created iconographic types -protypa for posterity (Crucifixion -pieta). To fulfill a of the often xaraktirizetai from entoni realistic mood, laid due to an earlier trend, antiklasikou character of Palaiologian painting. In "italokritika" projects follows the Late Gothic style, that realism fits with his artistic temperament.

H installing the student, Angelos Pitzamanos in Italy is not irrelevant to the trends of the painting of Andreas Pavias his teacher. Adaptation to more modern Italian influences (Bellini), recognized in the art of Nicholas Tzafouri, meticulous miniatures with "lyrical mood," which creates this new iconographic types (Akra Tapeinosi).

• The Crucifixion

• Η καθημερινή, Επτά ημέρες, Αφιέρωμα "Η Κρητική Σχολή Ζωγραφικής"

• National Gallery of Greece
• Institute of Modern Greek Research: Pavia Andreas