Greek Renaissance painter
Emmanuel Tzanes (Greek: Εμμανουήλ Τζάνες, 1610 – 28 March 1690), also known as Bounialis (Greek: Μπουνιαλής) Emmanuel Tzane-Bounialis, Emmanuel Zane, and Emmanuel Tzane, was a Greek Renaissance painter, author, clergyman, and educator. He spent the latter half of his life in Venice, where he was parish priest of the church of San Giorgio dei Greci and a member of the Flanginian School run by the city's Greek Confraternity. Tzanes painted in the style of the Cretan School, influenced by contemporary trends in Venetian painting. His known extant works, over 130 in number, can be found in public foundations, private collections, churches and monasteries in Greece. The most popular of these is The Holy Towel, finished in 1659. Tzanes was a collaborator with Philotheos Skoufos, and brothers with the painter Konstantinos Tzanes and the poet Marinos Tzanes.[1][2][3][4][5]
History
Born in Rethymno, Crete, Tzanes became a priest sometime before 1637. After the Ottomans conquered Rethymno in 1646, he fled Crete and spent eight years in Corfu. Here he painted numerous icons, sometimes in collaboration with Philotheos Skoufos. Tzanes moved to Venice in early 1655, remaining there for the rest of his life. In March of that year he applied to become the priest of San Giorgio dei Greci, offering to paint the church for free, but was initially turned down in favor of Skoufos. Skoufos vacated the position in 1660 and was succeeded by Tzanes, who served for the next twenty years. During his tenure he conducted twenty-six marriages.[6] He was also the supervisor at the Flanginian School of the Greek Confraternity in Venice.[7]
Over one hundred and thirty paintings by Tzanes survive, dating between 1636 and 1689. He served both Catholic and Greek Orthodox clients and produced works of all sizes, from small icons and triptychs to monumental paintings and sanctuary doors. Adhering to the Cretan School style which he learned in Rethymno, his paintings are dated and often include clients' portraits. His influence can be seen in works of the later Heptanese School. Tzanes regularly painted icons of Saint Alypios the Stylite, Saint Govdelaas the Persian, Saint Demetrios on horseback, and the Virgin and Christ enthroned. His brother Konstantinos Tzanes was also a painter and lived in Venice with him.[8][9]
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