Giannoulis Chalepas: The life and legacy of the Greek sculptor

The life and legacy of the renowned Greek sculptor Giannoulis Chalepas are being commemorated 88 years after his death. Born in 1858 in Tinos, Chalepas demonstrated an early passion for marble carving, often watching his father work in the family marble workshop despite his mother's disapproval.

His mother, Eirini, sought to steer him toward a career in commerce to avoid the dust and labor associated with stone carving. After several failed attempts to direct him toward trade, including a period in Syros, Chalepas pursued formal training. He studied at the School of Arts in Athens under Nikiforos Lytras and Leonidas Drosis, later receiving a scholarship to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Max von Widman.

Despite his immense artistic success and numerous accolades, Chalepas's life was marked by personal struggles, including mental illness, social isolation, and a difficult relationship with his mother.