Open full image Pin

Convent of the Pantanassa, Mistra

Unknown

1840

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Byzantine icon painting Romanticism Early 19th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

Convent of the Pantanassa, Mistra is a 1840 watercolor by Unknown, a Byzantine icon painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1840 · Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolor shows a stone church with rounded domes and tall arches. Soldiers in red hats stand near the steps, while a woman in a long dress walks by a wall. The building looks old, with a mix of brick and faded paint. The artist focused on the church’s details—like the small crosses on the domes—while keeping the people small. This style fits a time when artists traveled to sketch real places. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing of the Convent of the Pantanassa in Mistra, created in 1840 by an unknown artist, depicts the architectural structure in muted tones. The work was formerly part of a group of drawings mounted together, though stylistic analysis suggests a closer connection to another set by Arundale. It was purchased from W. Spencer in August 1967 for £12.

Read the full account in the museum source.