Greek restorers uncover rare 17th century icon

Athens, Mar 1: Greek restorers cleaning a Byzantine icon kept for years in a provincial church, discovered it was, in fact, a priceless work of a famous 17th century painter.

Concealed for centuries under an ornate silver cover, the icon of St John the Baptist with miniature scenes from his life, is dated 1646 and signed by Emmanuel Tzanes, a top artist of his generation whose works are in museums around the world.

''This is very important,'' Greek Culture Minister George Voulgarakis told reporters yesterday while presenting the icon. ''This icon is recorded for the first time under his name.'' Ministry officials said the icon must have been covered with a silver sheet around 1760, leaving only the faces visible to the faithful that have kissed it and prayed to it over the centuries, not knowing its value.

A slightly wild-looking St John is shown against a gold background, while 12 separate scenes from his life -- from his conception to his beheading and burial -- line the sides and bottom of the icon, which measures 1.22 by 1.03 metres (yards).

''His stern and slightly distant form, the intense and expressive look, shows the highly moral and imposing personality of an ascetic saint,'' ministry expert Constantina Skarmoutsou said.

Also a theologian and priest, Tzanes was born on the island of Crete in 1610 but later worked on the island of Corfu and in Venice, where he died in 1690. More than 100 of his works have survived, about half dated and signed.

Voulgarakis said that after restoration is completed, the icon would be returned to its church in the town of Kranidi in the Peloponnese, where special security measures will be put in place to protect it.

Reuters