Focus on Noah's Ark (Poulakis) and discuss the Description.
The painting is egg tempera and gold leaf on a wood panel.  The height of the work is 81 cm (31.9 in) and the width is 63.5 cm (25 in).  The works of de Vos and Sadeler share common characteristics with Poulaki's work.  Poulaki's painting more closely resembles Sadeler's engraving.  Both works feature similar figures.  The major differences are the upper central figure of God.  The figures also appear larger in Poulaki's painting.  God is surrounded by angel heads atop wings.   He is covered in a red drapery.  His majestic garment floats in space, it is painted in rich detail.  The folds of fabric are clearly visible.  The artists used an advanced shadowing method.Noah and his wife are in the foreground.  The artist demonstrates a mixture of Flemish, Italian and Greek art prevalent at that time.  Noah's wife Naamah holds a pillow under her right arm as she points to the ark and looks sternly into Noah's eyes.  The garments were influenced by the clothing of the Ionian Islands and Venice.          
Naamah's garment is decorated with ornate tassels.  Noah and his wife are wearing fashionably trendy hats.  Noah is carrying a very important book under his left arm.  Behind the main figures are their relatives.  The entourage exited a massive palace.  They are headed towards the ark.  The two figures behind Noah both look into each other's eyes.  The man has an elaborately decorated vase on his head.  The woman's hair is braided.  She holds an urn in her left hand.  The remaining four figures to our left, closer to the animals are carrying important items to the ark.  There are eight human figures in total.          
The animals are a mixture of elephants, camels, wild cats, snakes, rabbits, turkeys, and other creatures.  The animals that stand out the most are the two unicorns on the platform entering the ark, one is white and the other brown.  The ark, castle, and figures reflect the painting's complex three-dimensional characteristics.  An elaborate mixture of birds are flying over the ark.  The Greek inscription sais:  "ΧΕΙΡ ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΥ ΠΟΥΛΑΚΗ, ΝΩΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΙΔΙΟΥΣ ΣΥΓΓΕΝΕΙΣ Κ[ΑΙ] ΤΑ ΖΩΑ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΚΙΒΩΤΟΝ ΕΙΣΑΓΩΝ" (By the hand of Theodore Poulakis Noah and his Relatives with Animals Enter the Ark).The icon has a detailed history.  The painting was cataloged in 1700.  It belonged to the Greek Brotherhood of Venice.  It was completed sometime during the later part of the 1600s.  The work was also cataloged in 1770, 1847, and 1882.  In 1904, the catalog mentions the work was a painting on wood created by Poulakis.  The icon's signature was authenticated in 1949.  The 1949 catalog also revealed that the painting was located in the conference room of the Greek Brotherhood of Venice.
ark Theodore Poulakis tassel Naamah Noah