Long-time National Gallery director Marina Lambraki-Plaka passes away

·

Marina Lambraki-Plaka, an art historian and director of the National Gallery in Athens for almost 30 years, passed away in hospital on Monday morning at the age of 83.

Having been a long-time director of the National Gallery, Lambraki-Plaka was called the “Iron Lady” of the Greek Arts.

Following her death, Greek politicians have paid tribute to the art historian and sent their condolences to her family.

“[She] served the Greek culture with dedication,” Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, said on Twitter.

Greece’s Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, also expressed her “real pain” at the loss of Lambraki-Plaka. The minister praised her contribution in making Greek artists such as Theodoros Vryzakis, Nikephoros Lytras and Yannis Tsarouchis better known to an international audience.

“We owe her a big thank you for the dedication, creativity and love she showed all these years in the Gallery, in art, in Greece” Mendoni said. 

“I personally thank her for her friendship and the art lessons she offered us generously, charmingly, and unforgettably. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.”

Born in Arkalochori, Crete in 1939, Lambraki-Plaka was an archaeologist and professor emeritus of Art History at the School of Fine Arts. She served as the director of the National Gallery from 1992 and as deputy minister of culture in the caretaker government of 2015.

During her tenure as president of the National Gallery, the museum expanded with new branches in Corfu, Nafplio, and the Sculpture Gallery in Goudi.

The Museum also acquired 3,000 new works, including two paintings by Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) and important exhibitions of foreign and Greek artists were organised.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Peter Tzannes opposes push to increase Centennial Park’s event cap

A proposal to increase the cap on major events at Sydney’s Centennial Park has been rejected following strong opposition from local residents.

The story behind Greek Australian soldier reading The Greek Herald during WWII

This is the story of Xenophon Castrisos - the Greek Australian soldier captured reading The Greek Herald during WWII.

New interpreting graduates ready to help the state’s diverse communities

More than 40 multilingual students are set to bolster the NSW Government’s interpreting ranks after successfully completing its Interpreting Scholarship program.