The Municipal Art Gallery of Mytilene is housed in an old three-storey mansion from 1880, a typical example of local architecture, which dominates the area of Epano Skala. Until 1923 it was used as a residence and belonged to the last descendant of the Koulaxidis family, Halim Bey. The Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1999 after the restoration work of the building was completed.
The Art Gallery has one of the most important collections of paintings, which was donated to the Municipality by George Simos-Petris after his death, consisting of 110 paintings (August 1998), while the collection was completed with a newer donation (September 2001) by his sister of Elli Simou.Today the collection exhibited in the Municipal Gallery consists of 138 paintings, rare engravings, books and engravings. Among others, the Municipal Gallery exhibits works by Yiannis Tsarouchis, G. Gounaropoulos, Ant. Protopatsi, of Or. Kanellis, Picasso, Matisse, Moralis, Fasianos, Xr. Mpotsoglou, engravings by Bassos Katraki and a series of paintings by many other important Greek painters. The Municipal Gallery also has a remarkable collection of works by Lesbian painters.
George Simos – Petris
George Simos-Petris, born in Mytilini to Asia Minor parents (from Ayvali), was one of the most important technical critics of the country, an “intellectual” of the visual arts, a personal friend of the greatest Greek painters. He demonstrated significant resistance activity. In 1953 he began to publish technical reviews regularly in the newspaper “Avgi”, while from June 1955 to 1967 he participated in the Editorial Committee of “Art Review” – which is still a model today. After his death he donated his personal collection, consisting of 110 paintings, to the Municipal Gallery.
46 Adramytiou, Mytilini, Lesvos | 81 100 | 2251048002
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