St. Basil's (Agios Basilios)
Object number2007.131.17
Artist
Peter A. Contis
(died 1973)
Date1962-1973
MediumAcrylic; board; paper; glass; metal
Credit LineGift of Helen Contis
DescriptionAcrylic painting on board. Multicolored. In center, large basilica, white with yellow, black, and white dots, purple roofs; black trees with colored dots and purple flowers on bottom. Blue sky with streaks of white and black.Dimensions18.75 x 1.375 x 21.5 in. (47.6 x 3.5 x 54.6 cm)Signed"P A Contis" in deep red (brick red) lower right corner on art.
Historical NotesThis painting is part of a large collection of paintings and sketches by Peter and Helen Contis. George went to St. Basil's church in Tripolis with his father before he left for America. It would be the last time he saw his father. Before leaving to come to America, Peter went to this church and prayed (he never saw his father again). Greek sky is a characteristic of Peloponnese (always had a beautiful blue sky). Peter Contis emigrated to Pittsburgh in 1910 and began working in the restaurant business with his brothers. Peter later returned to his homeland of Greece and met Helen in 1928; they married three months later. Moving back to Pittsburgh, Peter eventually opened a restaurant called the Neon Grill in 1932, while Helen raised their three children. Nearly thirty years later, the restaurant was closed and razed, allowing the Contis' to realize their talent in art. A religious man all his life, Peter began painting landscapes, both of Pittsburgh and Greece, and other still lifes, focusing on God's perfect affection in nature: his buildings are symmetrical and colors are vivid. Helen's talents were not revealed until after Peter's death in 1973, when she began to paint poetically the landscapes and still lifes on her own. Helen died in 2004.
Related institution
St. Basil's Church
Related person
Helen P. Contis
(died 2004)
Related person
George Contis
On View
Not on view
