22 - THEOFILOS HADJIMICHAEL (1871–1934)

THEOFILOS HADJIMICHAEL (1871–1934) Anatoli Signed, titled in Greek, and dated “1920” (upper right) natural pigments on canvas 73 x 98 cm. (28.7 × 38.6 in.) Painted in 1960 natural pigments on canvas Footnotes: Provenance Private collection, Athens. Exhibitions Athens, Gallery 3, Theofilos, February 12–March 27, 1982 (listed in the exhibition leaflet, no. 6, and illustrated in the exhibition catalog). Literature Mesimvrini newspaper, March 2, 1982 (illustrated). E. Diamantopoulou, *Theofilos in Mt. Pelion: Matters of Pictorial Staging*, Alexandria Editions, Athens 2007, p. 232, no. 11 (listed). Also listed in the book’s revised edition, Epikentro Editions, Athens 2023, p. 208. This disarmingly beautiful painting, bathed in a translucent, glowing atmosphere, is an allegorical composition featuring a dual depiction of Sunrise: both as a magnificent sun disk emerging from the sea and as a lovely female personification in the form of an ancient Greek kore seated on the shore and contemplating the scene. Captured in sharp profile, echoing ancient Greek vase depictions, the young girl is rendered with both precision and a timeless quality, while the glorious rising sun draws its expressive power from stylized folk-art conventions: multiple symmetry, repetitive patterns, saturated colors, and exaggerated scale. The composition is framed by rose blossoms, garlands of wildflowers, and other floral motifs rendered in brilliant reds, sparkling greens, and radiant blues that evoke the magnificent harmonies of Byzantine painting. As noted by cultural historian E. Papazachariou, “at the dawn of the 20th century, the renowned villages of Mount Pelion—and most notably Lechonia, with its small plain stretching from the foothills of the mountain down to the sea—were a true paradise. The houses were nestled within dense foliage, and the gardens were brimming with rare flowers. This profusion of flowers deeply captivated Theofilos, who incorporated bouquets, potted plants, and lavish decorative garlands into his paintings.”1 The idealized composition of *Sunrise* is an allegory of such a paradisiacal world, replete with symbols: roses representing love, water signifying time, and the peacock alluding to immortality. The entire atmosphere is imbued with a dreamlike aura, evoking childhood memories, expressing Theofilos’s lifelong fascination with Greek nature, and suggesting a particularly happy period in his art and life. 1. E. Papazachariou, The Other Theofilos [in Greek], Kaktos editions, Athens 1997, p. 134. Auction House Notices: *Please note that due to Greek regulations, this lot cannot be exported from Greece and will be available for viewing and inspection in Athens by appointment or during the Athens Preview. This work will remain in Athens during the auction. *Please note that due to Greek regulations, this lot cannot be exported from Greece and will be available for viewing and inspection in Athens either by appointment or during the Athens Preview. This work will be located in Athens during the auction. For further information on this lot, please visit Bonhams.com