| The Second Coming | |
|---|---|
| Greek: Δευτέρα Παρουσία, Italian: Il Giudizio Universale | |
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| Artist | Georgios Klontzas |
| Year | c. 1580–1608 |
| Medium | tempera on wood |
| Dimensions | 127 cm × 47 cm (50 in × 18.5 in) |
| Location | Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies, Venice, Italy |
| Owner | Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies |
| Website | eib |
The Last Judgment, otherwise known as The Second Coming, is a late 16th-century Eastern Orthodox icon by Georgios Klontzas. The painting is a depiction of the return of Jesus Christ on the Day of Judgment. In Christianity, the Second Coming of Christ is believed to be the final and infinite judgment by God of the people of every nation, resulting in the salvation for some and the damnation for others. This icon and other works by Klontzas are currently preserved in the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, Italy.
Klontzas was a Byzantine Greek artist and émigré from the island of Crete in the period following the end of the Byzantine Empire, and member of the Cretan School. His artistic output was during the second half of the 16th century. He was affiliated with the early works of El Greco and one of the most productive Greek painters of the 16th century, along with Michael Damaskinos Most of his works were copied by other artists. His version of the Second Coming was used as a framework for other artists during the late period of the Cretan School. Leos Moskos and Francheskos Kavertzas both created similar versions.[1][2]
The Judgment story has been reproduced in art since the inception of Christianity. Both Greek and Italian Byzantine artists used the theme. Notable Italian artist Fra Angelico created many versions of The Last Judgment. Michelangelo also used the theme in the Sistine Chapel. His work there was one of the most important works of the 16th century. Klontzas may have been exposed to the work and other Italian prototypes. Klontzas used the theme multiple times he also has a triptych featuring the Last Judgment. Both The Last Judgement Triptych and this work are preserved in the collection of the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, Italy.[3][4]
- ^ Speake, Graham (2021). Georgios Klontzas Encyclopedia of Greece and the Hellenic Tradition. London And New York: Rutledge Taylor & Francis Group. p. 893. ISBN 9781135942069.
- ^ Hatzidakis, Manolis; Drakopoulou, Evgenia (1997). Έλληνες Ζωγράφοι μετά την Άλωση (1450-1830). Τόμος 2: Καβαλλάρος - Ψαθόπουλος [Greek Painters after the Fall of Constantinople (1450-1830). Volume 2: Kavallaros - Psathopoulos]. Athens: Center for Modern Greek Studies, National Research Foundation. pp. 89–91. hdl:10442/14088. ISBN 960-7916-00-X.
- ^ Staff Writers (November 13, 2021). "Greek Art Catalogue". Digitized Archive of the Hellenic Institute of Venice. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- ^ Eugenia Drakopoulou (November 13, 2021). "Second Coming". Institute for Neohellenic Research. Retrieved November 13, 2021.