Несебърската художествена продукция от края на ХVІ – началото на ХVІІ век. Нови данни
Artwork in Nessebar of the Late Sixteenth and the Early Seventeenth Century. New facts

Summary/Abstract: In the late sixteenth century, Nessebar has seen a significant upsurge in its artwork. Information about that is provided both by ktetors’ (donators’) inscriptions on the extant artworks and an inventory of the properties owned by the Metropolitanate of Nessebar in the end-century. The record holds both the names of the benefactors of the Metropolitanate and the donations they have made, as well as what the funds have been intended for. The inventory commissioned by Christopher, the new Bishop of Nessebar, who arrived here in 1594, allows for reconstructing to a considerable degree of the art activities in the city. At the same time the role of the figures with the greatest contribution to this upsurge could be specified. The record, translated into Bulgarian by Emanuel Mutafov, is given as a supplement. It shows that the renovation of the compound of the Metropolitanate of Messembria started as early as 1597 with the reconstruction of the residential and farm buildings. As seen from a wall ktetor’s inscription, published herein for the first time ever, the renovation and decoration of the metropolitan Church of Mother of God of the Life-Giving Spring (Zoodochos Pighi), now Church of St Stephen, started next year. The overhaul was completed in August 1599. An array of ktetors’ inscriptions on murals and icons of Nessebar are indicative of bustling art activities in the town in 1597–1609. Apart from Bishop Christopher and his departed predecessor Ignatius, among the most generous donators and patrons were Manuil Yulianus, Alexius Veropoulos, Theotoki Kapadoukas, Konstantinos Pangalos and shoemaker Tranos, a tenant of the Metropolitanate. The donators to the Metropolitanate of Messembria were representatives of various strata of society, both of town’s gentlefolk and common Christians.

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