Funerary stele with the “mourning spirit” relief. Sculptor: Iakovos Malakates, (1811-1903)
The monument was erected in 1858 by the wife of Michael Skalistiris (†1856), jurist and Minister of Justice. It is one of the oldest surviving monuments of the First Cemetery of Athens and one of the most characteristic examples of neoclassical funerary sculptural art in the stele type.
The stele, 2.00 m. tall, bears a pediment crown, small anthems on the four sides as well as rosettes, ankles and waves. It depicts in a sculptural form the “mourning spirit”. This symbolic funerary motif originates from ancient art and was widely reproduced in European funerary art during the era of European classicism. It is also found in various versions in the First Cemetery as well, as the first Greek marble carvers and sculptors were apprenticed to European masters.
Youth in the form of an angel symbolizes "genius", life ending. Holding a wreath in his right hand, his left foot rests on a felled tree trunk, in a posture that conveys contemplation and sorrow. Other symbolic motifs that appear on either side of the angel are the lamp and the owl. A tall candlestick is represented in relief on the back side of the column.
The creator is Iakovos Malakates from the island of Tinos. Along with his brother Fragiskos they were among the pioneer marble sculptors who created monuments in the 19th century in the Greek Cemetery.
City of Athens, Department of Cultural Heritage, 2022
@ text: Georgia Antonopoulou, katerina Tsatoucha, @ photos: Victoria Kaisari