Manolis Hatzidakis

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Manolis Chatzidakis
Born1909
Heraklion, Cretan State
Died1998(1998-00-00) (aged 88–89)
Athens, Greece
Resting placeFirst Cemetery of Athens
Alma materUniversity of Athens
École du Louvre
Occupation(s)Museum Curator, Art Historian
Known forPost-Byzantine Art Historian
SpouseEugenia Vei

Manolis Chatzidakis (

Byzantinist. He significantly contributed to the history of art of Greece. He specialized in the field of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine painting. He is considered the 20th century Giorgio Vasari and Bernardo de' Dominici. He was an archeologist, art historian, author, lecturer and curator. He also spoke Arabic and contributed to the field of Islamic art. He helped saved countless artifacts.[1][2][3]

Chatzidakis was born in Heraklion. He studied at the University of Athens, he graduated in 1933. He received a doctorate in his field of studies. He was associated with Greek industrialist and founder of the Benaki Museum,

Byzantine Museum of Athens. He was also the head of Byzantine Antiquities and General Superintendent of Antiquities.[4][5]

Chatzidakis was bestowed many awards for his work, namely the Order of the Phoenix and Gold Cross of the Order of George I. He was a member of countless organizations. His most notable contribution to Greek art was in the Greek Biographical Dictionary, and the magisterial Greek Painters after the Fall of Constantinople (1450-1830), in which he covered hundreds of hitherto almost unknown Greek painters from 1450 to 1830. He was a major contributor to uncovering and researching the early Cretan work of El Greco relative to the Cretan School. He helped organize and structure the framework of museums in Greece during the 20th century. He was instrumental in organizing the Hellenic Institute of Venice and the National Hellenic Research Foundation.[6]

History

He was born in

Heraklion, Crete.[7]
He was the son of Gerasimos Hatzidakis. Manolis showed an interest in art from a young age. During his early life, post-Byzantine art was relatively unknown. Greek diplomat and historian Dimitrios Sicilianos was one of the early proponents of the field. He published a book in 1935, called Greek Hagiography after the Fall (1450 - 1800). Hatzidakis decided to study and contribute to Greek art. He studied at the
University of Athens
. He attended the School of Philosophy. He graduated in 1933, but did not receive a doctorate until 1942.[8] He continued his studies in Europe. He studied with Gabriel Millet and André Grabar in Paris under a scholarship from Antonis Benakis. The Benaki museum was opened in 1930. Hatzidakis was affiliated with the institution while he was studying all over the world. By the 1940s, he was an expert in the field of Islamic art, Byzantine art, and post Byzantine art. He also spoke classical Arabic.[9]

In 1941, he became the director of the

Zakinthos immediately after the earthquake, countless Greek artifacts were lost and destroyed from the fires. Hatzidakis helped save 900 undamaged works of art. He was also part of countless archeological expeditions all over the world.[10][11]

In 1962, there was a grand exhibition of art organized by the European council. He was appointed secretary-general. The massive exhibition was held in Athens, Greece at the Zappeion, in September 1964. It was titled Byzantine and European Art. Around the same period, he carried out research on Mount Athos, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Saint Catherine's Monastery, Ionian Islands, Crete and Venice. He was also special representative of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the three-member committee for the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during the mid-sixties and seventies.[12]

In 1960, he was also the director of the Byzantine and Christian Museum . He was disrupted under the Greek junta they confiscated his passports and removed him from the position. He continued minor duties under the military dictatorship. In 1973, he took over the direction of the Byzantine Antiquities of Athens. When the Greek junta was overthrown, he returned as director of the Byzantine and Christian Museum . He retired one year later.[13]

He was a prominent member of the Greek Archaeological Council. He resigned in protest in 1977, he was 68 years old. The Greek government passed legislation that changed the composition of the council and transferred its responsibilities to the Ministries of Finance and Coordination. In 1987, he published Greek painters after the Fall of Constantinople (1450 - 1830) Volume A, the second version was published in 1997, Greek painters after the Fall of Constantinople (1450 - 1830) Volume B. The books featured hundreds of biographies about Greek painters including Georgios Klontzas, Emmanuel Tzanes, and Michael Damaskinos. He died in 1998. He was buried at the First Cemetery of Athens.[14]

He was a member of countless organizations and institutions. Hatzidakis was secretary of the Society of Byzantine Studies. He also served as secretary and president of the Christian Archeological Society. He was vice president of the board for the Educational Institute of the National Bank of Greece. He was a member of the German Archeological Institute. He received two honorary doctorates from the University of Brussels and Athens. He was an associate member of the Academy of Sciences of Vienna and Belgrade. He was a member of the Academy of Athens in 1980. He was the secretary of the organization from 1981-1990. In 1985, he was appointed chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Byzantine Art Exhibition, he was 76 years old. He taught courses at various educational institutions. He was the principal advisor for the restoration of countless works of art at their laboratories. He was also an advisor at the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art Research Center of the Academy of Athens. Throughout his lifetime he was awarded the Order of the Phoenix , Herder Prize (1965), and the Order of George I.[15]

Literary works

References

  1. ^ Manousakas, Manousos (2001). The presence of Manolis Chatzidakis at the Hellenic Institute of Venice Deltion. Athens Greece: Journal of the Christian Archaeological Society ChAE 22 Series 4. pp. 23–25.
  2. ISBN 9789602011447
    .
  3. ^ Staff Writer (November 9, 2021). "A Huge Loss for Archeology". Rizospastikis. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  4. ^ Terencio, 2001, p. 176
  5. ^ Achimastou-Potamianou, Myrtali (2001). The Contribution of Manolis Hatzidakis at the Byzantine Museum and the Benaki Museum. Athens Greece: Journal of the Christian Archaeological Society ChAE 22 Period Delta. pp. 33–35.
  6. ^ Terencio, 2001, p. 176
  7. ^ Manousakas, 2001, p. 23-25
  8. ^ Staff Writer (November 9, 2021). "A Huge Loss for Archeology". Rizospastikis. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  9. ^ Myrtali Achimastou-Potamianou (January 10, 2000). "Manolis Hatzidakis: The International Avant-Garde of his Science Tribute to the Greek 20th Century Faces". Ta Nea Digital Archives. Ta Nea. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Manousakas, 2001, p. 23-25
  11. ^ Achimastou-Potamianou, 2001, p. 33-35
  12. ^ Terencio, 2001, p. 176
  13. ^ Achimastou-Potamianou, 2001, p. 33-35
  14. ^ Achimastou-Potamianou, 2001, p. 33-35
  15. ^ Staff Writer (March 1, 2017). "Manolis Hatzidakis, the Byzantine scholar". Times News. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
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