Michael Damaskinos

Born in Candia around 1530, Damaskinos was a leading representative of the Cretan School and one of the most important post-Byzantine painters of the 16th and 17th centuries.¹

Moving to Venice in the 1560s, he learned miniature painting and was a member of the Greek Brotherhood of Venice from 1577 to 1582, executing many important religious works.¹

Over 20 of his major works remain in the Cathedral of San Giorgio dei Greci in Venice, including 18 icons on the iconostasis, which are among his most famous masterpieces.¹

Returning to Crete around 1583, he later declined an invitation to paint the dome of San Giorgio dei Greci for personal reasons, continuing his work in Crete and the Ionian Islands.¹

With about 100 known works today, Damaskinos was recognized as one of the most important painters by theorist Panagiotis Doxaras in his 1720 book 'The Art of Painting'.¹