Some of the Mature Work of Nikolaos Gysis

By the end of the 19th century Symbolism spread throughout Europe functioning as an antidote to the prosaic character of Realism. It was inspired by those forces that had once been activated by Romanticism: dream, fantasy, poetry and ideas. 

The main figure in "Art and its Spirits" is that of a beautiful winged girl, an angel who embodies the Art playing the violin. The reason is perhaps that Gyzis considered music as a superior form of art. 

The other arts are embodied by the little Erotes (putti), surrounding her like a swarm of bees, playing with the tools of various arts. 

The red skirt of the main figure, pouring down like a river, dominates the composition. 

Upon closer look, the composition appears to be organized on the diagonal defined by the movement of the little angels and two arches, one on the top right corner and the other on the bottom of the composition. 

The term Symbolism was introduced in the literary circles by the manifesto of the Greek poet Jean Moréas (1856 - 1910), which was published in Paris in 1886, while in painting it had emerged earlier. 

Christ appears on the throne, illuminated against a golden-purple background. Golden clouds form homocentric circles around him. Golden rays emanate from the figure of Christ across the entire work. 

Myriads of angels are kneeling on the great staircase which frames the scene, leading to Christ, celebrating his coming.