Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, Composition, January 1936, Oil on canvas, 105.3 × 161.5 cm, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NY, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection, By gift | © Adagp/Jeanne Bucher Jaeger, Paris, by SIAE 2024

From April 30 to September 29, 2025, the Doge’s Palace will host an exhibition dedicated to the artistic ties between Venice and Crete, between East and West. At its center is El Greco, who began his career in Crete as an icon painter and developed a unique style in Venice, influenced by Titian and Tintoretto. The exhibition features over 150 works, including pieces by other artists of the Veneto-Cretan school such as Klontzas and Damaskinos. The display tells the story of the fusion between Byzantine and Renaissance painting, in a journey spanning three centuries. The event goes beyond the theme of Venetian rule, highlighting the versatility of Greek artists who moved between different styles and adapted themes to suit patrons’ tastes. In every Venetian patrician home, a Greek icon above the bed was believed to protect the family. The exhibition will also be presented in Greece, further strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

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