Onuphre Icon Museum
Onuphre Icon Museum was opened in Berat in 1986. It contains some of the finest examples of religious art in Albania.This museum is named after the great 16C painter of the Albanian school, Onuphre.
In the Room 1: facing the entrance, displays one of the most beautifull icons in the museum, a work by Onuphre in which the Virgin Mary is shown holding the infant Jesus on her right arm, enclosed by metalwork beautifully decorated with geometric and natural motifs. The style developed in albania at this time was closely related to the icon painting school developed in Byzantine art in the time of Emperor John Paleologus, and the work of the Albanian painters drew on , and developed, a tradition already 200years old.
An icon representing Tyron and Stratiliate is exhibited at the entrance to the naos.The two warrior saints are shown dressed as soldiers and kneeling in prayer. The room also contains objects made for liturgical use and ornate Bible covers made by the Berat master Agathangjel Mbrica. a particulary fine example shows the life of the Prophet Isaiah.
In the Room 2 : is a large space with many icons exhibited in it. On the left is an icon 'Candlemas' from the citadel Church of the Annunciation. It is a complex, elegant , richly-coloured composition. The western side of the room is taken up with several other icons representing the Annunciation. Another outstanding icon in this room is that of the Virgin: made in 17C, it is heavily influenced in style by the contemporary icon painting school on the island of Crete. It has a delicate style , and very fine colour gradation. Icons of St Michael and St George of outstanding interest are also found in this room.
In the upper Room : Most of the icons in this room , reached by the central wooden staircase, are from the citadel church of St Demetrius. The finest is perhaps the icon of St Nicholas, attributed to Onuphre, or the icon of John the Baptist, by the same artist. At the end of the room is an interesting icon giving a picture of the citadel and town of medieval Berat in the background, an example of the work of Cetiri, other smaal objects also are displayed in this room.
