Georgios Roilos Greek, 1867-1928

Purchased from the artist  by the great grandfather of the present owner circa 1900; thence by descent

A. Filadephevs,  Greece during the Olympic Games of 1896, Athens, 1896, p. 44

Corn Sellers below the Acropolis is among the most important works by Roilos to appear at auction. Purchased directly from the artist by the great grandfather of the present owner circa 1900 this major painting has remained in the same family for over one hundred years. Its appearance at auction marks an important re-discovery for the artist’s oeuvre.

Roilos' initial training was at the School of Fine Arts in Athens from 1880 to 1887. He was then awarded a scholarship from the Kritsis Bequest to study in  Munich under Nicholaos Gysis (see lot 28) and later continued his training in Paris at the School of Fine Arts. He returned to Greece in 1894 as a teacher at the school of Fine Arts.

Corn sellers below the Acropolis  provided Roilos with the ideal setting to render striking contrasts of chiaroscuro within a composition. His exploration of the subtle yet theatrical effects of candle and lamplight on the human face and body was clearly influenced by the Dutch 17^th century masters such as Gerrit Dou. Painted after his return to Greece in 1894, the present work shows the influence that international art currents had on Roilos' work at the turn of the century.