Greek Academic Art of The 19th Century - History

History

The creation of romantic art in Greece can be explained mainly due to the particular relationships that were created between recently liberated Greece (1830) and Bavaria during King Otto's years (See:Kingdom of Greece). In this period the Greek state was encouraging young artists to study at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and in particular study painting. In addition, after centuries of Ottoman rule, few opportunities existed for young artist in Greece itself, immediately after independence, so studying abroad was imperative for them. Munich,was an important international center for the arts and is the place where the majority of the Greek artists of 19th century would choose to study and a minority would go to Paris. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" of painting. Many of these young artists later have returned to Greece to teach to the Polytechnic School and later Athens School of Fine Arts, where they would transmit their artistic experiences. Some of them like Nikolaus Gysis have chosen to remain in Munich, the so called Athens on the Isar.