We are transported back in time, on March 6, 1844, to a small town in northern Greece, Siatista. The region is still under Turkish occupation. The scholar, writer and headmaster of many schools Dimitrios Argyriadis welcomes his friend Konstantinos Takiatzis, a merchant from Kozani, to his recently renovated house.
Argyriadis: – “Dear friend, Mr. Takiatzis, how nice to see you again! Welcome to my house. Come and let me show you around”.
Takiatzis: – “It’s nice to see you again, my friend. Although the route to Siatista is perilous, with so many dangers lurking, fortunately I arrived safely. (Looks up and around). Very nice job you did here! The mansion has changed its appearance. I don’t remember it very well, but it used to be bigger, right?”
Argyriadis: – “I wanted to write to you about my project for so long, but the renovation work on the house took much longer than I expected. Turning an old mansion into a house for our times is a difficult task. I really wanted to do it though. After accepting my parents’ pleas and return from abroad to Siatista to be close to them, I wanted my house to serve my family’s needs. My wife, Vasiliki, is very happy here. Just a few more touches remain. Would you like me to show you around?”
Takiatzis: – “I’d be delighted!”
Argyriadis: – “I asked the painters to paint decorative garlands and buildings on the outside of the house to make it look more beautiful. Above the entrance I asked them to write this year’s date, 1844, to remember the time I renovated it.”
Takiatzis: – “Impressive, indeed…how many wall paintings!”
Argyriadis: – “Let’s get into the messia. (They enter the main room). You will see on the left the figures of Rigas Feraios“.
Takiatzis: – “‘A remarkable man! He sacrificed his life for the struggle for the liberation of our people from the Turkish tyrant. Who is painted next to him?”
Argyriadis: – “The King of Greece, Otto. On him I base my hopes for the liberation of our country”.
Takiatzis: – “An what about the two opposing peacocks on top?”
Argyriadis: – ” Symbols of immortality”.
Takiatzis: – “And on the right and on the left the ostriches“?
“To remind me of heavenly landscapes.”
Takiatzis: – “And what a nice blue color ypu have chosen here forthe rest of the room,” said Takiatzis, pointing to the ornament painted to the left of the staircase.
Argyriadis: – “Yes, I have seen that design many times in the houses of rich Europeans. It belongs to the art of rococo, that’s what they call it. I chose the blue colour because I like it very much.”
Takiatzis: – “And on the opposite wall?”
Argyriadis: – “On the opposite wall I asked for a large Roman church to be painted. In the centre of the roof there is an angel. A little higher up you can see two candleholders and the date 1844 once again between them”.
Argyriadis: – “On the opposite wall I asked for a large Roman church to be painted.
In the centre of the roof there is an angel. A little higher up you can see two candleholders and the date 1844 once again painted between them”.
“Let us now proceed to the main living room, on the right. This is where I am to welcome my guests. I thought that a representation of Frankfurt on the river Main in Germany would be ideal for this room. I gave the painter of the workshop a printed image of it, which I obtained a few years ago on a trip to central Europe, and asked him to copy it. He didn’t do so poorly, considering he didn’t study his art in Europe. What do you think? Unfortunately, he got confused and put crescent moons on the roofs of some of the towers instead of a cross. You see, it is difficult for him to understand that there are countries that are not ruled by the Ottomans.”
Takiatzis: – “An impressive painting, indeed. Your visitors will be delighted in this very room. Your painter has rendered the buildings, the walls, the ships with great skill. I only regret that I cannot say the same for the fish! And how many vases of flowers and fruit are painted all around. They look so real!”
Takiatzis stopped talking and wondered around. His gaze stood on the ceiling. Suddenly an exclamation of wonder was heard.
Takiatzis: – “What an exquisite example of woodcarving! How many designs and colors! I could stare at it for hours.”
Argyriadis: – “Now let’s go to the room across the hall. I made several changes and joined the two rooms to serve us. This is where I will spend most of our day”.
Takiatzis: – “A fireplace in a cavity of the wall! How original! We are not used to having such a fireplace in Kozani”.
Argyriadis: – “Yes, indeed. I find it more convenient. I did the same with the sink. I cut off the old one because it seemed too big. Vasiliki agreed with me.”
Takiatzis: – “A! What do I see here? You decorated the entire surface of the wall above the door. Again the figure of Otto, and it’s a double portrait here, right?”
Argyriadis: – “You found it! And all around archways and gardens, as befits a king. Last year, in fact, Otto’s Palace was inaugurated in Athens. If you remember well, on 25 July 1843 the royal family moved into their new residence in Athens, which was made to the designs of the architect of the Bavarian court, Friedrich von Goertner. And the royal garden was landscaped, under the personal care of Queen Amalia and the curatorship of the French gardener François Louis Barot. But, alas, my painter has never seen a palace or royal gardens, he painted them based on his own imagination.”
Takiatzis: – “Α! And these equestrian figures?”
Argyriadis: – “It’s the Tsar of Russia, Nicholas I, I’ve marked it above, and next to him is a Russian officer.
I deeply believe that the Nicholas can help us in our struggle against the Turks. He cares for the Greeks because they are Orthodox, as he is. Let us now continue our tour of the floor. I asked for a spacious hall with paintings left and right, so I can relax as I read while walking. To the right and left you will see landscapes, animals, various cities with rivers running through them and rare animals. You will also see an Austrian hussar in his distinctive costume. You know, hussars are lightly armed cavalry soldiers of some European countries. There’s also a globe painted here, as you can see. I think every family that wants to call itself civilized should have some kind of map in their home. At the back of the hall you will also see many vases of flowers. They are very much to the liking and Vassiliki likes them too. Now let’s go to the “good room” and I’ll treat you to a cup of coffee.
Takiatzis: – “I am really quite impressed with the wall paintings!”
Argyriadis: – “I’m glad you like them. In this room I kept the same decoration patterns. But next to the fireplace I asked for a painting of Constantinople, which I adore. I’ve never seen such a city before. The other day with my own hands I put the finishing touches on a painting by writing an inscription on it “1844 March 6 was the beginning of the reconstruction, and April 15 was the end.
In Siatista and then my initials”. Maybe in the future I will write a small poem to be painted above the fireplace. I’m thinking of an “heroic elegy“, as we scholars call it. What do you think?”
Tachiatzis: – “My dear friend, I have no words to describe what I feel. I wish your house will stay for years to come, and that in the future it shall be admired by the people of our country and beyond”.
