Theophanes the Greek

[2] According to a letter by Epiphanius the Wise, Theophanes painted churches in Constantinople, Chalcedon, Galata and Kaffa before moving to Russia.

[2] The surviving fragment stands as one of the finest examples of medieval Russian art and showcases his unique version of the Byzantine style that he brought to Russia.

Some of his contemporaries observed that he appeared to be "painting with a broom", in reference to the bold, broad execution in some of his finest frescos (see St. Makarios of Egypt), which are unique in the larger Byzantine tradition.

A hint of this might be gathered from his panel icon of the Transfiguration of Jesus, where the arresting geometry and brilliance of the figure of Christ is balanced against the ordered disarray of the earthbound Apostles, strewn about doll-like in the uncreated Light of Mount Tabor.

The balance of mathematical harmony in line and shape, wed to a master's use of an earthtone palette and precious gold leaf, evokes a spirituality that is immensely powerful, and speaks to the genius of this relatively unknown painter.