Curated by Chiara Squarcina, Andrea Bellieni, and Katerina Dellaporta, the exhibition explores the rich artistic exchange between Byzantine and Venetian painting traditions from the 15th to the 17th century, highlighting the intersection of the two visual cultures, the eclecticism of Veneto-Cretan artists, and the evolution of pictorial themes in response to patronage preferences. Special attention is given to the Renaissance in Greece and the role of art in the late Byzantine period, with works by El Greco showcasing the European dimension of this artistic language. The exhibition also explores the different approaches to artistic creation between East and West: in the West, the painter offers their art to God, whereas in the East, it is God who guides the artist’s hand.
The paintings come from public and private collections, including the Correr Museum and the Museum of Icons at the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies. The display emphasizes the historical ties between Venice, Crete, and Greece, also reflected in the presence of Greek icons in Venetian aristocratic residences.
