21 Οκτωβρίου, 2025
by On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Ionian Academy , the Ionian University and the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum are organizing an exhibition entitled Painting in the Ionian: 18th – 19th centuries at the National Gallery Branch in Corfu.
This special exhibition presents painting in the Ionian region from the late Venetian rule to the first decades after the Union , aiming to highlight an artistic production of key importance for the Greek countries in general, for the Greek state itself and, more broadly, for the Adriatic region.
The exhibition presents more than 70 paintings by 30 artists (tempera, oil paintings, drawings, engravings) , as well as related documents (manuscript treatises, printed publications, archival documents) from the collections of the National Gallery as well as from museums, cultural institutions and archives.
As a starting point, examples of painting from the late Venetian rule in the Ionian Sea are presented, on the one hand, of the “naturalist” followers of Panagiotis Doxaras and on the other, those of a Byzantine-style style. The work of Ionian artists, who systematically studied at the Italian academies of fine arts from the late 18th century onwards, is then presented, and works from the time of the Revolution to the last decades of the 19th century are included, a period during which the so-called “Ionian school” experienced a period of prosperity. Finally, the impact of this art in the capital of the Greek state as well as in other areas of the Adriatic and the eastern Mediterranean are presented.
As part of the exhibition, educational programs will be held for all educational levels , while an interesting public program with actions and many events is also being prepared.
The National Gallery, as part of the strategic reorganization of its Branches and in order to welcome this important exhibition, upgraded the infrastructure of the Branch in Corfu, with a view to improving the visitor experience and the excellent presentation of the works, in accordance with modern museological and museographic standards. A space for temporary exhibitions was created, thus giving the Branch a new dynamic. In this way, in addition to the re-exhibition of the permanent collection, which is planned for 2026, it will now be possible to host important temporary exhibitions, which will be a pole of attraction for the island’s residents and visitors.
Artists whose works are presented in the exhibition:
Georgios Avlichos, Aristides Varouhas, Themistoklis Varouhas, Dionysios Vegias, Spyridon Ventouras, Nikolaos Viskontis, Angelos Giallinas, Panagiotis Doxaras, Konstantinos Iatras, Nikolaos Kallergis, Dionysios Kalivokas, Nikolaos Kantounis, Efstathios Karousos, Ioannis Korais, Nikolaos Koutouzis, Georgios Miniatis, Vikentios Bokatsiambis, Nikolaos Xydias-Typaldos, Charalambos Pachis, Petros Pavlidis-Minotos, Gerasimos Pitzamanos, Ieronymos Plakotos, Eleni Sp. Prosalenti, Pavlos Prosalentis, Spyridon Prosalentis, Georgios Samartzis, Periklis Tsirigotis, Dionysios Tsokos, Raffaello Ceccoli.
Collaborating Bodies
Ministry of Culture – Ephorate of Antiquities of Zakynthos – Zakynthos Museum, General State Archives, National Historical Museum – Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece, Benaki Museum, Literary and Historical Archive (ELIA) of the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (MIET), National Library of Greece, Library of the Hellenic Parliament, Library of the University of Crete, Public Central Historical Library of Corfu, Library and Information Center of the Ionian University, Art Collection of the Bank of Greece, Art Collection of Alpha Bank, Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians, Museum of Ecclesiastical Art of the Holy Monastery of Strofades and Agios Dionysios, Art Gallery of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands, Anagnostiki Corfu Society, Angelos Giallinas Gallery Foundation, Antonios E. Komnenos Foundation, Giannis Perdios Collection, MuseoCorrer, Greek Orthodox Community of Trieste (Comunità Greco Orientale di Trieste), Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Historical Archive (Rome), Accademia di Belle Arti, Historical Archive (Naples).
Chairmanship of the Celebration Committee for the 200th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Ionian Academy : Elias Giarenis, Ionian University
Proposal- General Coordination : Elena Hamalidi, Ionian University
Scientific Curator : Panagiotis Ioannou, University of Crete
General Directorate of EPMAS – Artistic Programming : Syrago Tsiara, Art Historian
Museographic Study – Exhibition Curator : Marina Papasotiriou, Curator of the Branch of the National Gallery in Corfu
Exhibition production and space design : Irini – Daphne Sapka, Technical Advisor of the National Gallery
The exhibition is accompanied by the catalogue Painting in the Ionian: 18th-19th century , scientific curator: Panagiotis Ioannou / Elena Hamalidi, Melissa publications.
Duration: October 22, 2025 – March 22, 2026
Chairmanship of the Celebration Committee for the 200th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Ionian Academy: Elias Giarenis, Ionian University
Proposal – General Coordination: Elena Hamalidi, Ionian University
Scientific Editing: Panagiotis Ioannou, University of Crete
General Directorate of EPMAS – Artistic Programming: Syrago Tsiara, Art Historian
Museographic Study – Exhibition Curation: Marina Papasotiriou, Curator of the Branch of the National Gallery in Corfu
Exhibition Production and Space Design: Irini – Daphne Sapka, Technical Advisor of the National Gallery
