Focus on this artwork and explore the abstract.
Madre della Consolazione is a tempera painting created by Greek painter Nikolaos Tzafouris.  Tzafouris was active during the second half of the 15th century. He was a prominent member of the Cretan School.  He was influenced by Angelos Akotantos.  The painter was exposed to works of Giovanni Bellini.  At some point, he traveled to Venice and studied painting in the city.  He is considered one of the most important painters because he introduced two prototypes that were mass produced by Cretan workshops.  The painter is attributed with starting the specific style on the island of Crete.  Most historians refer to the style as the Italian style Madonna in comparison to its Greek counterparts.  Madre della Consolazione is very important because it served as a prototype for workshops on the island and it was heavily copied. Famous Greek painter Nikolaos Gripiotis and his contemporaries mass-produced the prototype.  It is very difficult to attribute unsigned works because the prototype was mass-produced.
Giovanni Bellini Crete Angelos Akotantos Nikolaos Gripiotis tempera Cretan School Nikolaos Tzafouris Tzafouris