Hadjiantoniou Phaidon, Rococo on Mount Athos
In the mid-18th century, the decorative rococo vogue also known as late baroque makes its appearance on Mount Athos, rather as an influence than in a more pure form, and chiefly in the interiors. The intensely frolicsome disposition of pure rococo did not prevent its introduction, albeit somewhat restrained, in several Athonite buildings, including kellia chapels, even in areas of strong ascetic tradition.
Of particular interest is the fact that on Mount Athos rococo is to be found both in its folk artistic expression known from the mansions of Western Macedonia, Mt. Pelion, and more broadly the Southern Balkans; and in its scholarly use of decorative elements that seem to have different backgrounds and covering different needs from those of bourgeois merchants of the same period.
In the present paper significant examples of rococo decoration in Athonite churches and dwellings are to be shown. Furthermore, an attempt is made to detect those factors that led to the acceptance of rococo, this Central European decorative style, as a well integrated artistic expression on Mount Athos, next to the ruling Byzantine and post- Byzantine art.
