Andreas Ritzos

Born in 1421 in Heraklion, Crete, to a father who was a seaman and jeweler, Ritzos became one of the founding fathers of the Cretan School, playing a pivotal role in the region's artistic history.¹

First recorded as a painter in 1451, he was active between 1460 and 1492. His workshop was a family legacy, with his sons and grandson also becoming prominent painters.¹

After his first wife Maria died around 1482, he split the inheritance with his son Nicholas and later remarried. Such records provide insight into the social and economic status of painters at the time.¹

Until his death in 1492, he reigned as one of the most influential painters of the Cretan School. His style continued to be a model for Orthodox iconography through his family and successors.¹