Périclès Pantazis

Périclès Pantazis (Greek Περικλής Πανταζής; Periklis also Pandazis; born March 13, 1849 in Athens, † January 25, 1884 in Brussels) was a Greek painter who was mainly active in Belgium.

Life

Pantazis was born the son of a teacher of Epirus in Athens. From 1861 to 1871 he studied painting at the Athens School of Art as a student of Nikiphoros Lytras. He then studied for a year at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. After that, he traveled first to Marseilles and then to Paris. In Paris he studied under Gustave Courbet and Antoine Chintreuil. During this time he also learned the modern works of Eugene Boudin know as well as those of the Dutchman Johann Barthold Jongkind. He also came into contact with the Impressionist works by Monet, Degas and Pissarro.

In 1873, with a letter from Claude Monet in his pocket, he settled in Brussels. He also followed an invitation from the rich Greek businessman Jean Economou, who gave numerous works for the young painter in order. In Belgium, he became a member of the anti-academic artists' group " Circle de la pâte " and became friends with the painter Guillaume Vogels and the sculptor Auguste Philippette, whose sister he married a short time later.

It quickly became known in Brussels Pantazis ' artistic talent. In 1878 he represented Greece with his work at the World Exhibition in Paris. His work has received excellent reviews.

Pantazis contracted tuberculosis and died shortly before entering his 35th birthday in Brussels.

Works

Pantazis differs from the other Greek painters of his time, since he was the first who turned away from the so-called Munich school and its academic painting, towards the for that time as subversive considered Impressionism. Together with Guillaume Vogels applies Pantazis as a pioneer of the Belgian Impressionism. Pantazis and bird had in 1883 founded the group "Les XX ", which honored Pantazis short time after his death with a retrospective.

Pantazis ' work, topographies and whole-body portraits are distinguished by their sensitive colors and subtle shades. It is said that his influence on the Greek and European painting might have been enhanced if he had not died so young.