A Scene from the Life of John Chrysostom (Ventouras)
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| A Scene from the Life of John Chrysostom | |
|---|---|
| Σκηνή από τη Ζωή του Ιωάννη Χρυσοστόμου (Greek), Una Scena Dalla vita di Giovanni Crisostomo (Italian) | |
 | |
| Artist | Spyridon Ventouras |
| Year | 1797 |
| Medium | oil on panel |
| Movement | Heptanese School |
| Subject | John Chrysostom Criticizing Empress Eudoxia |
| Dimensions | 47 cm × 30 cm (18.5 in × 11.8 in) |
| Owner | Private Collector |
A Scene from the Life of John Chrysostom is an oil painting created by Greek Painter Spyridon Ventouras. He was a representative of the Heptanese School. He was active on the Ionian island Lefkada. He traveled to Venice and studied painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. He had an active career for approximately fifty-five years. His activity ranged from 1780 to 1835. The Institute of Neohellenic Research cataloged over sixty of his paintings. Five of them were portraits.[1]
Painters from the island of Lefkada adopted a theme related to the life of John Chrysostom the Patriarch of Constantinople and the feud he had with the Roman Empress Aelia Eudoxia. He was one of the church clergy that disliked paganism and destroyed priceless historical ancient Greek monuments. He inadvertently roused a mob that destroyed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, for the second and final time. The monument was the Temple of Artemis. Ironically he appears in countless works of art. He accused Aelia Eudoxia of paganism. He was exiled several times.[2]
He was one of the founders of the early Christian Church and one of the most important authors. He wrote over 700 sermons, biblical commentaries, moral discourses, and theological treatises. Numerous artists have depicted his feud with Aelia Eudoxia. Painters from the island of Lefkada adopted the theme. Three Greek painters created similar works. Makarios Lefkas, Spyridon Venturas, and Stylianos Devaris. The actual event is John Criticizing Empress Eudoxia. In this version, the empress is not present but a messenger communicates with John. The same messenger holding an umbrella was behind her in earlier versions of the painting from which she appears. The work was sold by Sotheby's in London on November 11, 2008, to a private collector.[3][4]
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