Lady the Lambovitissa

Emmanuel Tzanes painted the Lady the Lambovitissa in 1684, a rare example of a portrait-style icon from the Cretan-Venetian tradition. This work from Tzanes's late career demonstrates his continued production of icons for the Greek diaspora communities of the Eastern Mediterranean. The painting is now held by the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, which preserves one of the most important collections of post-Byzantine art.

The icon blends the frontal presentation and gold-ground conventions of Byzantine art with softer Western modeling and a more naturalistic approach to facial features. Tzanes's mature technique shows refined color harmonies and delicate brushwork.