Artwork

History of the Siege of Lisbon

History of the Siege of Lisbon, by Christos Giannopoulos, unspecified, 2006
History of the Siege of Lisbon, by Christos Giannopoulos, unspecified, 2006

History of the Siege of Lisbon is an unspecified painting by the Contemporary Realist artist Christos Giannopoulos. It dates from 2006 and is held in the collection of the Athens School of Fine Arts.

About this work

You see a tall painting filled with soldiers, ships, and smoke. It looks like a book cover made real. The scene shows Lisbon under attack in 1147.

The artist painted it in 2006. He based it on a novel by José Saramago. Saramago won the Nobel Prize for his writing.

Look up the Museum of Ethnography to see this unusual book cover art.

Overview

This 2006 oil painting visually interprets the cover of José Saramago's novel, 'The History of the Siege of Lisbon'. The large-scale work translates the book's theme into a dynamic scene.

Subject & Meaning

Depicting Lisbon under attack in 1147, the painting reflects the novel's exploration of historical events and their narrative interpretations. Soldiers, ships, and smoke dominate the composition, evoking the chaos of siege warfare.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the painting's style blends detailed representation with expressive brushwork, capturing the intensity of the depicted battle. Its vertical orientation and dense composition mimic the format of a book cover enlarged to monumental scale.

History & Provenance

Created in 2006, the painting is inspired by Saramago's literary work. The artist's choice of subject honors the Nobel Prize-winning author's influence. Currently, the piece is housed at the Museum of Ethnography.

Context

While Saramago's novel reexamines historical narratives, the painting translates this theme into visual terms, engaging with both literary and historical contexts. The artwork's placement in a museum setting further contextualizes it within broader cultural heritage.

Legacy

As an unusual intersection of literature and visual art, the painting contributes to the multidisciplinary appreciation of Saramago's work. Its presence in the Museum of Ethnography may also reflect the evolving boundaries between ethnographic and artistic exhibitions.

Σχέδιο 3
Σχέδιο 3, Lina Pigadioti-Tzima

Artist & collection

Artist

Christos Giannopoulos

Christos Giannopoulos made two large works in 2006: a painting called History of the Siege of Lisbon and a metal sculpture titled Rebetiko.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted History of the Siege of Lisbon?

History of the Siege of Lisbon was painted by Christos Giannopoulos in 2006.

Where can I see History of the Siege of Lisbon?

History of the Siege of Lisbon is held by Athens School of Fine Arts.

What movement is History of the Siege of Lisbon?

History of the Siege of Lisbon is associated with Contemporary Realism.