A 16th Century Italo-Byzantine Cross

Thursday, April 10, 2014, 4:30pm

A Malcove Collection Lecture by Sheila Campbell, Former Malcove Curator and Professor Emerita at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto.

After the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, many Greek artists had to emigrate to find work in other countries. Some went to Spain, for example the painter known as El Greco. Many settled in northern Italy, Venice in particular, where over many decades a culture developed which reflected both Byzantium and Italy, and the Orthodox and the Latin Churches. The cross which we shall examine is a fine example of how this blending of cultures was made manifest in an object meant for private devotional use.