Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens: Temporary exhibition:Domenikos Theotokopoulos before El Greco The Adoration of the Magi, by Michael Damaskenos. Loaned from the Museum of Hagia Aikaterini of Sinaites and the Holy Archdiocese of Crete (second half of the 16th century) Part of the exhibition about other Greek artists, contemporary to Domenikos Theotokopoulos, who worked abroad, mixed styles and adopted western elements. During the 16th century Cretan painters became sought out and the Cretan/Eptanesian style of painting, merging byzantine and western traditions rose to prominence. The most notable feature in western depictions of the Adoration, is the Black Magus. According to the New Testament, the three Magi visited the newborn Christ bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The stylish Black Magus often depicted bringing a lavish gift, might bear the gift of gold. In that case he represents Europe’s reliance on the supply of gold from West Africa. West Africa would be strongly pursued by both Christian and Islamic interests and representations such as this hint to that very early “scramble for Africa”. Interestingly enough a literary reference to the image of the Black Magus and the symbolism behind it, might be found in the character of the Prince of Morocco in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:59:25 +0000
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