The Malakates Brothers

Francisco Malakates 
 

 Born 1808                                     Died 1903

Painter: Spiros Vikatos

Jacob Malakates

Born 1811                                       Died 1901

 No photograph found

The Malakates brothers were born in Tinos in the village of Ysternia on the southwest side of the island not far from Pyrgos. There they learned the art of sculpting in the workshop of their father Petros.

They were the very first to establish a marble workshop in Athens in 1834. It was on the corner of Stadiou and Korai streets just a whisper away from what was then the king’s palace in Klafthmonos square. They called it the «Ερμογλυφείον», a word we have translated as “The Chisel of Hermes”, a name indicating in no uncertain terms the workshop’s spiritual connection to ancient Greece. 

 

The Malakates Brothers in the Cemetery

 

Their work in the First Cemetery may not be as grandiose as some of the work of later sculptors. But it was elegant and beautifully executed –  fitting precursors of what the cemetery would become.  Prominent families such as the Zalokostas (Ζαλοκώστας), Rangavis (Ραγκαβής), Tipaldou, and the  Yiotis (Γιώτης) all memorialized their love ones with monuments from the Malakates brothers’ studio.

Their signature on a tomb: ΜΑΛΑΚΑΤΕΣ ΕΠΟΙΕΙ

Many, but not all, sculptors in the First cemetery signed their works. Those who did, signed using the ancient form of the word, just as Greece’s most famous ancient sculptor Pheidias signed his: Φειδίας εποίει: created by Pheidias.  Sometimes finding these signatures in the cemetery requires patience and the sure footedness of a mountain goat. They can be just about anywhere!

 

The family grave of Evfrosinis Tipaldou (ΕΥΦΡΟΣΥΝΗ ΤΥΠΑΛΔΟΥ):

Section One, Number 222 She came from the Mourouzis family and married G. Kozaki Tipaldou.  Placing one’s genealogy on a tombstone was common practice in families who were proud of their Phanariot heritage.

The lower part of the same monument showing   a traditional farewell scene so typical of  ancient monuments

The Grave of ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ Χ. ΖΑΛΟΚΩΣΤΑΣ:

Section One, Number 379

Georgios Zalokostas was considered one of the best poets of his era – hence the lyre carved under that beautiful Delian laural tree. The Greek key was an extremely popular motif when the Malakates brothers were creating monuments.

A Family grave of the Argyopoulos (ΑΡΓΥΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ) family has a hidden treasure in its depths: 

Section One, Number 390

An exquisite grave marker by the Malakates brothers.

This was pointed out to me by the very kind D. Saltaferas who is a descendent of a Phanariot family himself and often tends their graves:

The family tomb of Alexandros Rizos Rangavis (ΑΛΕΧΑΝΔΡΟΣ ΡΑΓΚΑΒΗΣ):

The upright at the back of the family grave is austere, a reflection of his distinguished literary and diplomatic career:

Section One, Number 378

His profile in bas-relief appears above the simple design and the family coat of arms is depicted on the horizontal surface:

The grave of the Damaskinos (ΔΑΜΑΣΚΗΝΟΣ) family:

Section One, Number 172

A detail of the Damaskinos tomb:

The Yiotis (Γιώτης) family tomb:

Section Four, Number 180

       

 

 This very attractive monument is easy to locate and well worth a closer look.

The Papachristopoulos (ΠΑΠΑΧΡΙΣΤΟΠΟΘΛΟΣ) family tomb:

Section 2, Number 122

 And finally, the family tomb of the Malakates (ΜΑΛΑΚΑΤΕΣ) family:

Section 4, Number 311

 The Map