The iconic 19th-century Ionic style building designed by architects Hansen and Chiller opens its doors to the public to narrate the Greek Revolution as a clash of civilization once morest barbarism, as captured by Lord Byron, himself saying: “If I am poet, it is because of the air of Greece”.
The Academy of Athens organizes and hosts the new exhibition “Lord Byron and the Philhellenic Aura” with exhibits from the Museum of Philhellenism curated by the historian of Art at the Academy of Athens Louisa Karapidakis.
Rare works of art
One hundred and thirty personal items of Lord Byron, historical documents and publications, as well as rare works of art featuring Byronic heroes from the collections of the Museum of Philhellenism tell the story of 19th century Philhellenic art. The exhibition also constitutes a re-encounter of the public with the architectural masterpiece of the Academy, as a bearer of wisdom and light from the 19th century until today!
“The visitor to the exhibition can admire exceptional works of philhellenic art of the 19th century, such as rare oil paintings, collectible porcelain figurines, bronze and marble busts, manuscripts and unique editions. The unique experience, however, lies in the fact that the exhibition takes place in a building of incomparable beauty, of high aesthetics, also from the 19th century, in the historic building of Hansen and Chiller”, he describes to “ET”. the Art Historian curator Louisa Karapidakis.
The exhibition is being developed in the exhibition space of the Academy of Athens and includes Lord Byron’s personal items, rich memorabilia and portraits that betray the global glory of the Philhellenic, following his death. Also, a large and rare series of exhibits, exclusively related to Byronic heroes, is on display.
The editions
The visitor browses through editions and illustrations of the works: “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” (1812-1818), “The Giaour” (1813), “The Corsair” (1814), “Lara” (1814), “Manfred” (1816 -1817) and “Cain” (1821).
MYSTERIOUS PERSONALITY
According to the Athens Academy’s special brochure for the exhibition, “Lord Byron remains an enigmatic and brilliant personality even two hundred years following his death. His name is at the crossroads that abridges romanticism, political liberalism and philhellenism.” Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage brought Greece to the fore as the cradle of Western civilization, leading progressively to the adoption of the demand that “Greece must be free once more”.
As Mrs. Karapidaki explains, “the general secretary of the Academy of Athens, Christos Zerefos, wanted to give the general public the opportunity to visit the emblematic building of the Academy”. Thus, the Academy of Athens organized a series of thematic exhibitions. “Lord Byron and the Philhellenic aura” follows the exhibition “Eleftherias Narratives. The Academy of Athens honors 1821”, while a dedicated exhibition to the composer, founder of the Heptanisian School of Music, Nikolaos Mantzaros, is to be implemented.
INFO
“Lord Byron and the Philhellenic aura”. Until October 31, Academy of Athens. Information: 210 3664700
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