Konstantinos Volanakis Sold at Auction Prices

Naval painter, b. 1837 - d. 1907

(b Crete, 1837; d Piraeus, Greece, 1907) Greek Painter. Known as the 'bard of the Greek sea', Volanakis was a keen and affectionate observer of nature, whose knowledge of the sea encouraged the fullest expression of his talents. He first became interested in marine subjects during his time as an accountant in his brother-in-law Georgios Afentoulis's sugar refinery. There his sketches of the harbour and small ships on the firm's ledgers drew the enthusiastic attention of his employer, and the artist was sent, with the financial backing of his family, to the Academy of Arts in Munich, to study under Karl von Piloty. After his studies he worked in Munich and traveled to Venice and Trieste, cities whose picturesque port and harbour-oriented topography would prove inspirational. It was during his stay in Vienna that Volanakis had the opportunity to travel throughout the Mediterranean in the Austrian navy's training ship, which would prove the inspiration for his coastal and full ocean scenes, and the characters that populate his beloved marine panoramas. (Credit: Sotheby's, London, Greek Paintings, November 11, 2008, lot 11)