Adamantios Diamantis

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Adamantios Diamantis (Nicosia, January 23, 1900 – Nicosia, April 28, 1994) was a Cypriot painter, one of the leading figures in Cypriot art. He is considered the father of modern Cypriot painting, having left a profound impact on both the artistic and cultural landscape of Cyprus.

Biography

He was born in the old medieval city of Nicosia and grew up in his father's carpentry workshop, where he first encountered art and the materials of creation. In 1919, he moved to London to study painting at the Royal College of Art, where he was awarded the First Prize in Drawing in 1923.

During his time in England, he was exposed to the major artistic movements of the era, drawing influences from artists such as Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky, gradually developing his own artistic style.

Upon returning to Cyprus in 1926, he took up a position as an art teacher at the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia, a role he held continuously for almost four decades, until 1962, influencing generations of students. At the same time, he became an active member of the Society of Cypriot Studies, a collector of folk art, and the founder of the Cyprus Folk Art Museum, where he also served as its first director.

His deep commitment to Cypriot tradition was expressed both through his collecting and artistic activities.

Friendship with Giorgos Seferis

In 1953, during Giorgos Seferis’ first visit to Cyprus, a great friendship blossomed between the two artists. They toured the island together, an experience that was captured in Seferis' poetry collection "Details in Cyprus," dedicated to Diamantis. Seferis described Diamantis as a person "radiating love" and compared his painting to the vitality of nature itself.

Artistic Work

Diamantis drew inspiration primarily from the Cypriot landscapes, the forms of daily life, and the struggles of the Cypriot people. His largest and most emblematic work is "The World of Cyprus" (1967–1972), a monumental painting (17.5 meters in length and 1.75 meters in height) consisting of 11 panels depicting 67 characteristic types of Cypriots, as captured in his sketches from his travels between 1931 and 1959.

The painting captures the everyday life and the spirit of the Cypriot people just before the dramatic changes brought about by the Turkish invasion. Today, it is displayed in the Leventis Art Gallery in Nicosia.

In an article published in the newspaper AGON (June 12, 1975), G. Chatzikostis referred to the work as "doubly significant" — referring both to the painting and to Diamantis' book "The World of Cyprus – Narrative", where he describes the work and its characters.

Diamantis himself expressed regret that after the events of the 1970s, he had "lost his world," as he could no longer find the old authenticity in the places and people that once inspired him. One of his works, part of his "Anxieties" series, was destroyed during the 1974 coup in Cyprus.

Awards and Honors

1923: First Prize in Drawing from the Royal College of Art, London.

1976: Honored by the Academy of Athens for his educational and artistic contributions.

1989: Awarded by the University of Athens.

1993: Received the Award of Letters and Arts.

Legacy

After his death on April 28, 1994, his son donated his library — including about 1,200 books — to the University of Cyprus, contributing to the dissemination of his cultural work and legacy.

Notable Works

The Planters (1932/33)

The World of Cyprus (1967–1972)

The White Mountains of Lapithos

At the Feast of Panagia of Araka

The Carriage Drivers of Asmalti

Girls of Paphos

Anxieties