Greek Church in Verona
Greek Church in Verona
Greek Church in Verona

Greek Church in Verona

Object number2007.131.82
Artist (died 2004)
Date1974-1998
MediumAcrylic; canvas; paper; glass; metal
Credit LineGift of Helen Contis
Dimensions29.5 x 0.75 x 23.5 in. (74.9 x 1.9 x 59.7 cm)
Signed"HELEN P. CONTIS" in black, lower right corner on art.
Historical NotesThis painting is part of a large collection of paintings and sketches by Peter and Helen Contis. Greek church in Verona, PA. Cardinal in bottom right was their family bird. 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 person (died 1973)
On View
Not on view
Orient Point, Long Island
Helen P. Contis
1978
Homestead Works #2
Peter A. Contis
1962-1973
Beehives at Kollinas
Helen P. Contis
1974-1998
Orient, Long Island, N. York
Helen P. Contis
1977
Kollinas
Helen P. Contis
1976
Kollina #2 Tis Panegris-church
Helen P. Contis
1974-1998
Catskill Mountains in N.Y.
Helen P. Contis
1962-1998
Homestead Works
Peter A. Contis
1962-1973
Harper's Ferry #3
Peter A. Contis
1972
Painting
Helen P. Contis
1978
Homestead Works, Pittsburgh
Peter A. Contis
1962-1973
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