Trapezon Fresco at Dionysiou

Photographer

Horlbeck, Frank R.

Date

• June 23, 1983

Summary

• This photo shows a fresco on the exterior wall of the trapezon (refectory or dining hall) at the Dionysiou monastery. The refectory is located in the south-east wing, and it was painted by Cretan painters in the 16th century with later additions by the painters Daniel and Mercurio in 1600. The fresco in this photo depicts part of the "opening of the fifth and sixth seals" of the Apocalypse cycle. The composition was likely adapted from Bibles printed in Western Europe. Art Historians have found this and other compositions at Dionysiou to be similar to Albrecht Durer's and Lucas Cranach's engravings of the Apocalypse. The Dionysiou monastery was founded by the Blessed Dionysios of Koryssos (in Kastoria). An official chrysobull signed by Alexios II Comnenos places the founding of the monastery in 1374. Alexios and later Byzantine emperors supported the monastery financially. After the Ottoman conquest, the monastery received aid from the princes of Danubian lands who helped expand it. The defensive tower of the monastery, shown here, dates to 1520 and was used for safe-keeping of books and valuables. In 1535 the monastery was destroyed by a fire in which it lost a large portion of its library and valuable possessions. It was rebuilt shortly after. The catholicon (communal church) was built in 1537-47 and painted in 1546-47 by the Cretan painter Tzortzis.