Ayia Napa

Creator:

Congreve, Ellen Marjorie, 1885-1972

Date:

ca. 1935

Medium:

Pastel

Inscriptions:

Inscribed on verso: Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Description:

Marjorie Congreve studied painting for six months in Paris. In 1908, she married Galfrid Congreve and moved to Canada where she had three children. In 1932, she followed her son to Cyprus where she stayed till 1948. She lived in Kyrenia where she was locally known as ‘gathourou’ for her love of donkeys. Snubbed by the local British society, Marjorie lived among the locals teaching young girls handicraft. She painted views of Cyprus which she sold to complement her income. She worked mainly in pastels and watercolours. The celebrated ficus sicamorous or sycamore trees survive on the island at specific locations. They are very few and very old. One of them is still to be found in front of the Latin Cathedral of St Nicholas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque), another in the metropolitan church of Limassol and the third, depicted here in pastels, by the monastery of Ayia Napa. Monastic buildings appear in the background. The soft pastel tones and the misty effect they create reflect the gentleness and serenity of the artist and her love for the country.

Dimensions:

32 x 24 cm

Signature(s):

Unsigned

Identifier:

PNT-00118

Classification:

Drawings

Object Type:

Drawing

Rights Holder:

© Costas and Rita Severis Foundation

Rights Statement:

The Costas and Rita Severis Foundation holds or manages the copyright(s) of this item and its digital reproduction. If you need information about using this item, please send an email to research@severis.org

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