Minyatis, Georgios

Georgios Minyatis was born in 1823, in the city of Argostoli on the island of Kefalonia . He came from the family of the famous Kefalonia preacher and theologian , Bishop Ilias Miniatis (1669-1714). Got painting lessons on his island, from Antonio Rifio. He continued his artistic education in Italy. Married a Greek from Margaret Alvano who lived in Rome . Margarita was a writer and came from the island of Kerkyra . Minyatis is mentioned not only as an artist, but also as the “Connoisseur” ( Konosier ) of medieval art. Together with his wife, Minyatis lived and worked in Italy, France, Switzerland and England. As an artist, Miniatis also worked as a journalist and illustrated the London Illustrated News magazine. Georgios Minyatis died in Livorno , in 1895 ^[2] .

Minatis works are few in number. At the same time, some of Minyatis’s works were not preserved and are familiar only from photographs and names. Among his famous works are listed:

• “Margarita in prison”
• "Farewell to the corsair." The work was exhibited at an international exhibition in Paris in 1855.
• " Marcos Botsaris ."
• " Promises ". For this work, the artist was awarded by King George I.
• "Scene from the Spanish Inquisition." The work was donated to King George I.
• Sappho .
• The Resurrection of Christ.
• "Woman with a child." The work is in the historical museum of Argostoli .
• "Self portrait." Only the photograph has survived in the publication "Dictionary of Greek Artists and Engravers"
• "Children with a bunch of grapes"
• "Portrait of Spiridon Pilik." Only photo preserved

The portrait of the professor of criminal law and the former Minister of Justice of Greece, Spiridon Pilik, caused a debate in the press in September 1863. Minyatis performed a portrait on the death mask and the last photograph of the deceased. The professor was sick for many years and his face was distorted. Minyatis skillfully concealed defects. This caused a debate in the press about the permissible limits of the artist’s interference in displaying real faces, about the real and ideal portraiture in art ^[3]