Constantinos Parthenis Greek, 1878-1967

Never previously offered at auction, the present work is a major example of Parthenis' work from the 1930s. Influenced by Picasso, Braque and Modigliani, Parthenis has incorporated elements from the avant-garde currents he encountered while in Italy and France.

With its superb colouring and striking forcefulness of design, The Virgin and Child is a prime example of Parthenis' power as a draughtsman. Painted in soft pinks, browns, blues and yellows, the faces of the Virgin and child dominates the centre of the composition. The Virgin's slightly tilted head is supported on a trunk-like neck outlined in black and juxtaposed by the saturated browns of her hair. The ethereal figures are offset against the vibrant yellow of the halos and blue sky. The Virgin's eyes, looking downward empty of any expression, give her an enigmatic gaze. As in the portraits of Amadeo Modigliani whose work Parthenis saw whilst in Paris, the sitter's gaze is void of emotion, shrouding her in mystery.

Parthenis' work is key to the development of twentieth-century Greek art. As a prominent member of the Omas Techni group of 1917 he was responsible, together with Konstantinos Maleas (see lots 2, 8 & 13) for introducing French ideas on light and colour into Greek painting. This movement, together with Parthenis' teachings at the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1929 to 1947, marked the end of the lingering influences of German Academism, paving the way for a new experimentation in form and colour.

A smaller version with differences is in the collection of the National Gallery and Alexandros Soutzos Museum, Athens.