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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-10-23
CONTENTS
[01] Exhibition on Theophil Hansen, creator of Athenian Neoclassicism,
inaugurated
[01] Exhibition on Theophil Hansen, creator of Athenian Neoclassicism,
inaugurated
Greek President Karolos Papoulias and President of Austria Heinz
Fischer on Wednesday inaugurated the exhibition "Hellenic Renaissance:
The architecture of Theophil Hansen" held at the Theocharakis Foundation.
The exhibition, which will last until January 18, includes more than 180
original drawings (watercolors, crayons etc.), mostly originating from
Austrian and Danish museums and Archives, most works of which remain
unpublished. It, also, includes a number of furniture, objects of gilded
bronze, as well as 19th century photos.
Theophil Hansen (1813-1891) was born and educated in Copenhagen. During
his nine-year stay in Athens (1837-1846), he composed the architectural
narrative that characterized Athens in the 19th century; that rendered
him the main creator of Athenian Neoclassicism.
In 1859, based on the University building created by his brother
Christian, he conceived the so-called "Athenian Trilogy" -the complex of
the Athens University, Academy and Library- which constitutes the most
important architectural ensemble of Greece, after the Acropolis. He
also designed the Observatory, Zappeion and a number of unexecuted
projects. At the same time, he excelled in Vienna where he designed a
series of buildings, including the Parliament, the Academy of Fine Arts,
the Greek Church, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Concert Hall, etc.
His whole work has developed in a distinct architectural idiom with
"retrospective" characteristics which Theophil himself called «Hellenische
Renaissance» (Hellenic Renaissance).
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Academy of Fine
Arts, Vienna and the National Art Library of Denmark. It is under the
auspices of the Austrian and Danish Embassy and its grand donor is the
Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
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