Tsokos Dionysios

He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice under professor Lodovico Lipparini while it is said that in Zakynthos he took lessons from Nikolaos Kantounis. During his studies he twice took part in exhibitions in Venice (1845 and 1846). In 1847 he returned to Greece and in 1856 was appointed professor of drawing and painting at the Arsakeio.

Having been raised with the ideals of liberty and influenced by the work of his teacher, he painted historical subjects influenced by the Greek War of Independence, which are characterized by a sentimental overload. Starting in 1850 he began to do portraits of leading figures, his relatives as well as professors at the University of Athens for the decoration of the ceremonial hall in which there is a more academic style at work, although still possessing elements of Ionian island painting. Toward the end of his life he undertook, at the request of the Greek government, to do the portraits of the men who fought the Greek Revolution but he died before he was able to complete the task. These works can today be found in the National Historical Museum while the preliminary drawings for them are in the collection of the E. Koutlidis Foundation and the Benaki Museum.