Ο ναός του Αγίου Γεωργίου στα Πραστειά Σιδερούντας Χίου
Part of : Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας ; Vol.29, 1983, pages 37-76
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37-76
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The Church of St. George at Prastia Sideroundas, on Chios
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Articles
Abstract:
The discovery of the single-naved church of St. George, hitherto unknown, in the not easily accessible area of Prastia, between Siderounda and Volissos, in northern Chios, offers valuable information on the island's history and artistic activity during the Genoese occupation. According to the founder inscription of A.D. 1415, the church had been donated by Battista Justiniani and his wife Bigota, descendents of the eminent Genoese families of the Cambi and the Arangi respectively. The consecration of this orthodox church by a catholic notable may have been merely a noble gesture of respect for the local population. Or again, it may well have served as an attempt to win over the conquered people, in accordance with the policy applied at that time, in order to face more effectively the Turkish menace. The interior of the church is entirely covered with wall paintings. Many of the scenes, especially those decorating the upper parts of the walls, are hardly recognizable, since no cleaning operations have been undertaken so far and the frescoes remain hidden under a thick layer of smoke. Nevertheless, the better-preserved scenes betray the hand of a painter of great skill and training, who knew how to choose the subjects, quite often from works of an earlier period representative of the "academic" tendencies of the Comnenian style, and convert them into examples of the current artistic trends by employing contemporary techniques and his own ingenius talent. The painted decoration of the church of St. George is in line with the island's tradition, which is known to have produced works of high artistic quality, like the splendid mosaics of Nea Moni and the remarkable frescoes of the Panagia Krina, of the Panagia Agrelopousa etc. In addition, the exact dating of this church offers substantial evidence on Byzantine painting in the early 15th century, a period from which very few dated monuments have survived.
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