In the exhibition hall of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s conference center is a truly exceptional exhibition of Post-Byzantine art. Vivid icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary and other central Biblical figures are displayed in bold colors accompanied by various multimedia tools and informative panels (in Arabic only).
The exhibition space, perhaps a little tight for what is on offer, ideally should be packed with people taking advantage of the fact that Alexandria, along with Barcelona, Nice, Prague, Seoul, Berlin and London has been chosen to host such a major event. Alas, that’s not the case. The exhibition hall is completely deserted and even the security guard seemed confused as to why there is someone else in the hall other than him.
“Approaching Heaven with Greek Icons from the Velimezis Collection is a selection of icons brought on to the BA by amateur collector and businessman Emilios Velimezis. A Greek born and raised in Alexandria, Velimezis began collecting post-Byzantine icons in the inter-war period, showing a particular preference for icons produced in Venetian-held Crete during the 15th and 16th centuries where icon painting flourished after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Velimezis’ premature death in 1946 meant a catalogue of the collection was never completed, with much of it becoming dispersed in smaller private collections. It was not until 1991 that the Benaki Museum decided to reassemble, restore, study and publish Velimezis’ Icon Collection of the interwar years.
Overseen by Professor Nano Chatzidakis, the collection’s restoration enabled it to travel around the world visiting various nations including Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, UK, South Korea and Peru. In addition, panels, educational programs and video projections were produced in 10 languages.
Today the collection incorporates icons from various regions of Greece, dated between the 15th and 19th centuries. The icons on show are not mere pieces of art, but a historical document of important religious characters and events.
Many icons displayed in the exhibition include well known scenes of the Bible, the most striking being the icons of the “Crucifixion, “Descent from the Cross and “Adoration of the Shepherds. Prominent Biblical characters featured in here include, aside from Jesus and Mary, Saint Catherine, John the Baptist, Saints George, Demetrios and Peter.
The subtle western influences that defined Velimezis’ favored Cretan style are demonstrated in various icons, including the brightly paneled “24 Stanzas of the Akathistos Hymn and various representations of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Other intriguing icons include the “Virgin, the Unwithering Rose flanked by the Saints George and Demetrios, and the icon that tells of the “Miracle of the Holy Girdle.
The centerpiece of the exhibition, and the most impressive of the Velimezi icons, is the “Passion of Christ – Pieta with Angels, painted by Spanish artist El Greco between 1567/68 in Crete. El Greco (1541-1614) was one of the most original artists of his age and is revered for his highly expressive and visionary religious paintings. Among countless artists inspired by his elongated figures and use of light were Van Gogh, Gauguin and Picasso.
Previously discounted by scholars who denied the famous painter had ever painted icons, a fading photograph taken in 1938 showed that the painting once bore the artist’s signature – under his real name, Domenikos Theotokopoulos – beneath Christ’s feet. The painting had been photographed just before the signature was removed by a heavy-handed restorer. The discovery made international headlines and significantly increased the value of the collection.
The exhibition also includes other stunning artifacts including a silver processional cross and colorful woodcut sanctuary doors depicting the Annunciation giving an insight of the style and character of Post Byzantine art. Accompanying the exhibition is a continuous playing DVD explaining the history of some of the icons and an interactive CD-ROM, “The Conservation of Icons in the Velimezis’ Collection, allowing the visitor to learn more about the individual icons, conservation methods incorporated and background history on the project.
There are few places where such an impressive collection of important pieces of art can be viewed for free. If this fails to stir interest, then what will?
Inaugurated on Nov. 27 by Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director Ismail Serageldin and the Hellenic Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Kassimis on the occasion of the establishment of the Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies, the exhibition was made possible through the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and Benaki Museum.
“Approaching Heaven is open daily, 9 am-8 pm through Dec. 20. Tel: (03) 483 9999.
