| Art in Zakynthos |
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LITERATURE
Zakynthos, like the rest of the Ionian Islands, never fell into the hands of Turks. Ionian Islands, instead, remained for centuries under Venetian, French and English rule and for a short period of time under Russian rule.Thus, the population had the chance to live according to a European and especially to an Italian culture and develop a pioneering cultural activity, which became apparent in painting, in music, in literature and in theater. The literary evolution of Ionian Islands during 19th century is known in the History of Literature as "Ionian School". It is true that whenever we are referring to the literary physiognomy of the island, we have Solomos and Calvos in mind. Dionysios Solomos is perhaps the most important not only among the poets of Ionian Islands but also among the poets of modern Greece. He was born in Zakynthos in 1798 when French were ruling the islands. His father was a rich aristocrat, while his mother of humble origins. He was raised and studied in Italy. He returned to Zakynthos in 1818 and immediately started to compose poems. In May 1823, devastated by the outburst of the Greek Revolution, he wrote the "Hymn to Liberty" which later became the National Hymn of the country -set to music by N. Mantzaro, also from the Ionian Islands. Solomos belongs to the same category with the great modern European lyrics. He died in Corfu in 1857. Andreas Kalvos was born in Zakynthos in 1792 from aristocrat mother and poor father. Significant moment of his life was his meeting with the great Italian poet Ugo Foscolo. He spent most of his lifetime in London working as teacher, while for a short period he taught philosophy at the Ionian Academy of Corfu. His poetic production amounts to 20 odes inspired mainly from the Struggle for Independence. He constructs his own language, where behind the exterior classical body a restless soul of a pure romantic is concealed. Andreas Kalvos died in 1869 in England, from where his relics were transferred with celebration in Zakynthos. MUSIC & THEATRE The use of musical instruments, at the beginning to accompany the military parades, made it possible for the islanders in the course of the centuries to intone ballads to accompany the folk feasts. In spite of the Venetian influences (Zakynthos Serenade) and the Cretan ones (Arekia), since ancient times the islanders developed their one form of music that had their best moment with the institution of the Zakynthos School of Music in 1815 and in the following years of choirs and music clubs. It is possible to find the musical tradition both in the ecclesiastical and folk music whose most famous expression is the sirtaki an ancient and lively ball accompanied by folk songs narrating about love and marriage. Another important form of art is the theatre both as a moment of mutual feast and as moment of folklore whose historical roots go back to the period of Venetian domination. At the beginning the representations were held in the nobles parlors and were considered something only for the well to do classes; during the last years of the Venetian domination a theatre was built to host for the first time also the lower classes. The two genders that developed with more success were the opera and the so called “omelies” folk representations denouncing the social injustices whose subject were the lower classes. In those works the most common theme was the contrast between the rich and the poor and the actors used to wear a mask to keep themselves anonymous. ARCHITECTURE Despite the touristic development, the people of Zakynthos have maintained the characteristics of the local architecture. The local constructions are influenced by Italian and Western architectural style. Since the 17th century, apart from the period when all the arts made progress, architecture flourished. The contemporary architecture combined Baroque and Renaissance styles with the traditional elements of the Ionian style. In the island's capital, old mansions and churches which survived the earthquakes in the 18th century still stand. Most of the defensive constructions and other public works were during the Venetian Rule. After 1850, many neoclassical buildings were built, one of them being the Municipal Theatre in the capital, built by the German architect Ziller in 1875. Most of the churches of Zakynthian province were influenced by Neo-classicism. Unfortunately, the earthquake of 1953 destroyed everything with only a few exceptions. Today, the beautiful buildings built after 1953, retain the style and beauty of traditional Ionian architecture, and they make Zakynthos an island of unique beauty. PAINTING The first affects in painting came from Byzantine art. The first painters dedicate themselves to religious themes representing holy icons in churches and utilizing the technique of egg tempera on wood. In the XVII century thanks to Doxaras the painting technique changed into the oil on canvas one with portraits and perspective drawings. Another important painter was Koundounis belonging to the Filiki Eteria and he painted pictures with nationalistic and not only religious messages. Tsakos too is to be remembered for his pictorial quality and precision in the portraits details. In the XIX century painting partly changed its connotation; it is not only a holy form of art to be exposed in churches but it starts being a form of art for everyone to be admired also in one's own house. In this period Pelekasis was very important, an internationally acclaimed painter for his landscapes, portraits and icons that have been exposed in museums. DANCE Zakynthians adore dancing and singing. The most popular dance is "syrtos", danced all over the island, with few variations. It is accompanied by an accordion, a guitar and a violin and, depending on the area, the dance is called "Galatiotikos", "Volimiatikos" or "Levendinikos". In the central mountainous villages of the island, the local dance is "Giargitos" or "Dance of Thesseus", representing Thesseus's course in the labyrinth and his battle against Minitaur. There is also "Kinigos", narrating the adventures of the hunters and "Stavrotos", named after its crossed steps. In the village of Agios Leon, the local dance is "Amiri", denoting the unfortunate marriage of a young girl. |
