The artist’s story, full of optimism reflected in his exquisite paintings, records an epic journey from darkness to light
A special one traveling exhibition dedicated to life and the work of the philhellene painter John Craxton (1922-2009) carried out on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of his birth will begin its journey with the Benaki Museum as its first stop.
The artist’s story, full of optimism reflected in his exquisite paintings, records an epic journey from darkness to light.
As many of his works have never been presented, only now can we appreciate what happened: an unparalleled portraitist and landscape painter in mid-20th century Greece. The exhibition of the Benaki Museum hosts 90 works divided into four sections, many of them unknown until now and coming from the Craxton Estate. These works cover all periods of the artist’s career: engravings and drawings, paintings, as well as photographs and personal items.
Central to the exhibition is the stunning tapestry “Landscape with Elements of Nature”, which Craxton designed and supervised in Edinburgh while in exile during the Dictatorship. Inspired by the traditional Cretan weaving, the tapestry summarizes his love for the Greek world.
From October 2022 until January 2023 the exhibition will be transferred to Crete, to the Municipal Gallery of Chania and then will be presented in London.
