8. Dionesius of Fournas

Dionysius is well known among the iconographic community for his book, "Interpretation of the Art of Painting", a treatise/manual about the materials, the techniques and the imaging typology (the way the saints must seem or how to set up the scenes -ie Nativity, Crucifixion etc), which still remains one of the most influencial books of Byzantine painting-although quite obsolete regarding the materials and techniques. Dionysius adviced -and drove- his contemporary younger artists to "study the works of Manouel Panselinos", which Dionysius considered the best of the painters. Indeed, his

style is inspired by Panselinos and the Macedonian School of the 14th century while Dionysius, in turn, influenced other contemporary artists to adopt and follow this style. This movement of the return to the 14th century art that characterized early 17th century, could be considered as a reaction to the contemporary -then- style(s) that had deviated from the traditional byzantine style (either Macedonian or Cretan) with  many western (Italian Renaissance mainly)  and folk add-ons.

Dionysius, a monk himself, was born in Fournas, a village in mountainous Evritania and maintained a workshop in Karies, the administrative centre of Mount Athos.  His works can be seen in the monastery of Karakalou in Mount Athos. But apart from being a great painter, Dionysius' biggest contribution to Art was that he was the first to praise Manouel Panselinos and his art, who would otherwise have remained unknown and underestimated.