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Yiannis Moralis, Epithalamion

With Epithalamion, Yiannis Moralis takes his distinctive artistic language from painting and applies it to tapestry. He draws inspiration from ancient nuptial songs and organises the composition using abstract forms, geometric shapes and a gentle colour palette. The weaving technique adds a distinct materiality to the work and highlights the artist’s engagement with the applied arts.

From painting to tapestry

The Epithalamion tapestry is a typical example of Yiannis Moralis’ engagement with the applied arts.

The work was created as part of a collaboration between the artist, Giannis Faitakis and the Royal Welfare organisation, with the aim of transferring works by contemporary painters onto tapestries.

Inspiration and style

The theme is inspired by the nuptial songs composed in ancient times to celebrate and honour the marrying couple.

The work features key aspects of Moralis’ art during the 1960s:

Abstract artistic language
Geometric forms
Mild colour palette

The weaving technique adds a tangible, almost archaic, materiality to the work. The painted composition is not merely transferred onto the fabric; it acquires substance, weight and texture.

His life in a nutshell

Yiannis Moralis (1916-2009) was born in Arta. He studied Painting and Printmaking at the Athens School of Fine Arts (1931-1936). There, he attended the workshops of Konstantinos Parthenis and Umberto Argyros. In 1933 he took lessons at Jean Kefalinos’ engraving workshop.

He continued his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1937-1939). There he studied Painting under Charles Guerin and Murals under Ducos de l’ Haille. At the same time, he attended mosaic classes at the École des Arts et Métiers. He returned to Greece at the start of WWII and joined the army.

In 1947 he was appointed full professor at the preparatory department of the Athens School of Fine Arts. 10 years later he was appointed full professor of Painting, where he remained until 1983.

A prolific artist

Moralis’ work spans 6 decades. During this time, other than painting he also worked in ceramic art, illustrations and scenography.

He created paintings, scene sets, costumes, engravings, book and magazine illustrations, posters, pottery, architectural applications, etc.

In addition, he worked with the National Theatre, the Hellenic Choreodrama and the Karolos Koun Art Theatre.

Constant experimentation

The artist found himself in constant experimentation. He completed numerous sketches and studies related to the use of colour. His goal was to arrive at a final result that, on the one hand, was satisfactory to him and, on the other hand, served the purposes of the composition. In other words, he wanted to create a piece that would be in conciliation with the audience.
There was no differentiation between the function of his paintings and his applications. Moralis worked in the same fashion to complete a painting as he did for a large mural. He applied similar experimentations and continuous research to come up with the best aesthetic solutions.

A recognised artist

Moralis is considered one of the most important painters of the post-war generation. He had a significant impact on post-war art in Greece, both with his work and his teaching.

He received numerous accolades, such as the bronze medal in the Panhellenic Art Exhibition of 1940 and the gold medal at the International Craft Fair in Munich (1973). He was also appointed regular member of the International Institute of Letters and Arts (1962), was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Phoenix (1979) and the Excellence Award for Letters and Arts by the Academy of Athens (1979).

He participated in group and international exhibitions, the most important being the Venice Biennale (1958) and the Biennale Internationale de la tapisserie (1965, 1972) in Lausanne.

In 1988 a retrospective exhibition of his works was held at the National Gallery. In 1996 the Academy of Athens organised an exhibition in his honour.

Yiannis Moralis at Alpha Bank

The Alpha Bank Art Collection also includes the following works by the artist:

The work of art in our publications

The piece Epithalamion by Moralis is featured in the following Alpha Bank publications:

Weavings. Paintings and Tapestry in Greece from 1960 to the Present, Benaki Museum (Pireos building), 2019

Epithalamion hangs at the Kolonaki Alpha Bank branch (1 Sekeri Street, Athens).

You can visit it by appointment. You can visit it by appointment. Contact us to book your visit.

Yiannis Moralis, Epithalamion