07 works, Today, August 23rd, is Theonas of Alexandria's day, his story illustrated #235

Anonymous

Saint Theonas

Oil on canvas

Museo Pedro de Osma, Lima, Peru

There are other engravings of this subject by de Leu, Honervogt, and Valesio. Although in the same direction as Leclerc's, the Leu and Valesio versions show the quill in Theonas' left hand rather than in the inkwell. And the apparent log at his back is represented as the saint's hood in the Honervogt print (as well as the Leu and Valesio engravings). There is also a version published by Giacomo de Rossi (Iacobe de Rubeis) (active in the 17th century). More on this painting

Flemish School, 17th Century

Saint Theonas

Oil on panel

27.5 x 35.5 cm

Private collection

Flemish painting flourished from the early 15th century until the 17th century. Flanders delivered the leading painters in Northern Europe and attracted many promising young painters from neighbouring countries. These painters were invited to work at foreign courts and had a Europe-wide influence. Since the end of the Napoleonic era, Flemish painters had again been contributing to a reputation that had been set by the Old Masters. More Flemish School

Pope Theonas of Alexandria served as Pope of Alexandria (head of the church that became the Coptic Church and the Greek Church of Alexandria) between 282 and 300.

Unknown artist

Theonas of Alexandria

I have no further description, at this time

Theonas was a scholar who built a church in Alexandria, Egypt dedicated to the name of the Virgin St. Mary, the Theotokos.

Maarten van Heemskerck (16 century)

Illustration of Ancient Alexandria, c. 1572

Hand-colored engraving

I have no further description, at this time

Maerten van Heemskerck or Marten Jacobsz Heemskerk van Veen (1 June 1498 – 1 October 1574) was a Dutch portrait and religious painter, who spent most of his career in Haarlem. He was a pupil of Jan van Scorel, and adopted his teacher's Italian-influenced style. He spent the years 1532–6 in Italy. He produced many designs for engravers, and is especially known for his depictions of the Wonders of the World.

According to his biography, he began his artistic training with the painter Cornelius Willemsz in Haarlem. He then left for Delft, where he studied under Jan Lucasz, before moving on to Haarlem, where he became a pupil of Jan van Scorel

Heemskerck then went to lodge at the home of the wealthy curate of the Sint-Bavokerk, Pieter Jan Foppesz. The artist painted him in a now famous family portrait. 

Before setting off for Italy on a Grand Tour in 1532, Heemskerck painted a scene of St. Luke painting the Virgin for the altar of St. Luke in the Bavokerk. 

He travelled around the whole of northern and central Italy, stopping at Rome, where he had letters of introduction from van Scorel to the influential Dutch cardinal[4] William of Enckenvoirt.

While in Rome where he made numerous drawings of classical sculpture and architecture. He was to use them as source material throughout the rest of his career.

On his return to the Netherlands in 1536, he settled back at Haarlem, where he became president of the Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke (in 1540),

The alteration in his style, brought about by his experience of Italy was not universally admired. 

He painted large altarpieces. In 1553 he became curate of the Sint-Bavokerk, where he served for 22 years. More on Maarten van Heemskerck

"For about two centuries before the birth of Christ, and the same period after it, Alexandria was the great seat of intellectual culture and home of Greek philosophy. It was the joining point between three continents, and became the battle-ground, where the religions of the East were brought face to face with the philosophical creeds of the West, and where both were represented by their ablest champions."

Until his time, the faithful were praying and performing their services in homes and in caves for fear of the unbelievers. Pope Theonas dealt with them wisely and gently to achieve what he wanted to do. He converted many of them to believe in the Lord Christ and baptized them.

Unknown artist

Pope Peter of Alexandria, c. 1199

Russian fresco

I have no further description, at this time

He baptized, in the first year of his papacy, St. Peter, who succeeded him on the apostolic throne of St. Mark and was the 17th Pope. It was said that he ordained Peter as a reader at the age of five, then he promoted him to be a deacon at the age of twelve, then as a priest at sixteen.

Unknown artist

Catechetical School of Alexandria

I have no further description, at this time

He was a dedicated patron of the famed Catechetical School of Alexandria that served the academic needs of that era.

Agnolo Gaddi (Italian, Florentine, active by 1369–died 1396)

The Trinity, ca. 1390–96

Tempera on wood, gold ground

51 1/8 x 27 7/8 in. (129.9 x 70.8 cm)

 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Agnolo Gaddi, (born c. 1350, Florence [Italy]—died Oct. 16, 1396, Florence), son and pupil of Taddeo Gaddi, who was himself the major pupil of the Florentine master Giotto. Agnolo was an influential and prolific artist who was the last major Florentine painter stylistically descended from Giotto.

In 1369 he was employed in Rome as an assistant to his brother Giovanni, a minor painter, in the execution of frescoes for Pope Urban V in the Vatican. In the 1380s he executed his most ambitious works, a series of frescoes in the choir of Santa Croce in Florence illustrating the “Legend of the True Cross”. In these frescoes Agnolo sacrificed expression for design, and his overall concern with optical unification of the composition replaces Giotto’s concentration on figures, thereby revealing the new approach toward painting of the International Gothic style. Between 1383 and 1386 Agnolo designed medallions representing the virtues for the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, and between 1387 and 1395 his name appears as the designer or gilder of statues for the facade of the Cathedral of Florence. In 1394–96 he painted a cycle of scenes from the life of the Virgin in the Cathedral of Prato. His death in 1396 left unfinished an altar of the Crucifixion in San Miniato al Monte outside Florence. More on Agnolo Gaddi

At the time of this patriarch, a man by the name of Sabellius appeared in Alexandria who was teaching that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one person. Theonas excommunicated him and he invalidated his heresy by convincing proof.

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.