19th century The School of Munich (1892). , ''Children's Concert''. Modern Greek art began to be developed around the time of
Romanticism. Greek artists absorbed many elements from their European colleagues, resulting in the culmination of the distinctive style of Greek Romantic art, inspired by revolutionary ideals as well as the country's geography and history. After centuries of Ottoman rule, few opportunities for an education in the arts existed in the newly independent Greece, so studying abroad was imperative for artists.
Munich, as an important international center for the arts at that time, was the place where the majority of the Greek artists of the 19th century chose to study. In the school of Munich, led by
Karl von Piloty, true
fresco was taught for mural paintings on fresh wet lime plaster. During this period much of the art was emotional and theatrical in tone. The most prominent themes of the school of Munich were urban life, rural life, still life, and landscape. Later on, they would return to Greece and pass on their knowledge. Some of them remained in Munich, the so-called
Athens on the Isar. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" of painting.
Nikolaos Gysis was an important teacher and artist at the
Munich Academy and he soon became a leading figure among Greek artists. Academism, realism, genre painting, upper middle class
portraiture,
still life and
landscape painting, often representing
impressionist features, will be replaced in the end of the 19th century by
Symbolism,
Jugendstil,
Art Nouveau, which are mainly traced in the work of Nikolaos Gysis,
Aristeas and others. Early-20th-century
modernism is also represented by significant Greek artists in Munich. Many of these Munich School artists chose subjects such as everyday Greek life, local customs, and living conditions. Several important painters emerged at this time.
Theodoros Vryzakis specialized in historical painting and especially inspired by the 1821
Greek War of Independence.
Nikiphoros Lytras concentrated on realistic depictions of Greek life.
Georgios Jakobides devoted his attention to infants and children and he would later become the first Director of the new
National Gallery of Athens.
Georgios Roilos was another leading painter of the period closely associated with the Munich School, especially in his early career.
Konstantinos Volanakis was inspired mostly by the Greek sea. Other artists associated with the
School of Munich were
Symeon Sabbides,
Yannoulis Chalepas,
Leonidas Drosis, as well as quite a few modernist artists who studied in Munich, which included
Theofrastos Triantafyllidis,
Jorgos Busianis, and also
Giorgio de Chirico. == Notable 20th- and 21st-century artists ==