Chalcographies grecques aux pays balkaniques pendant le XIXe siècle

Abstract

Copper-engraving was widely practiced by the Balkan peoples for the reproduction of a large number of copies of hagiographie compositions and Saints’ portraits. Especially on Mt. Athos there arose considerable use of this popularized form of art. At first engraved copper plates were ordered from European artists, but by the end of the 18th century there appear many Greek engravers, who impart to their works a more popular character. Many of these engravings have bilingual inscriptions, in Greek and a Slavonic language, because they circulated throughout the Balkan Peninsula. This resulted in the spreading and copying of many hagiographie themes, not only traditional ones but more modem ones too, such as Neomartyrs’ partraits. A typical example is St. George of Jannina, who was martyred in 1838. A few years after his martyrdom, copper engravings were in circulation representing him full-length in
foustanella and fez. These engravings also gave rise to a wooden icon from the village of Kuklen, which is on display in the palace of the Metropolitan of Philippopolis. We are here dealing with an adaptation of an engraved model to painting techniques.