Lot 30: Jan Vochoc (Czechoslovakian, Late 19th/Early 20th Century)

Russian Orthodox Monastery at Mount Athos
signed 'Jan Vochoc' (lower right)
oil on canvas
39 1/4 x 79 in. (99.7 x 200.7 cm.)
together with an icon of Christ, early 20th Century, oil on wood with goldleaf, stamped on the reverse with the Russian inscription Blessings from Mount Athos Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon in which this Holy icon was blessed (2)

Little or nothing is known about the artist who so clearly signed the present work. A Jan Vochoc appears as a priest during the time the painting was executed, and it is possible that he is the author of this painting, however, it is not the maker, who was clearly a talented and visionary artist but the subject of this remarkable work that is so intriguing.

Mount Athos is the name of the peak that rises out of the sea at the southernmost point of the northernmost peninsula of Halkidiki in Macedonia, Greece. Officially, the Greek name of the site is Aghion Oros, meaning 'Holy Mountain'. To the Orthodox, the Holy Mountain is the heart of the Church. It is here that Orthodox monasticism has found its center since the end of the first millennium.

This site has captured the imagination of many civilizations before the founding of the monastery. According to Greek mythology, in the struggle between the Titans and the Gods, the leader of t he former was Athos and of the later, Poseidon. Athos cast a massive rock and Poseidon from Thrace, but it missed him and fell into the sea, forming the pyramid shaped mountain that bears his name.

During historical times, Athos is mentioned for the first time in connection with the Persian expedition against Greece under the command of Mardonius in 493 B.C., when the Persian fleet met with bad weather and was destroyed. Ten years later, Xerxes repeated the expedition, but in order to avoid another catastrophe, he dug a canal at the neck of the peninsula. In 368 B.C. the peninsula and its now six towns became part of the state of Phillip of Macedonia, whose son Alexander the Great became the King of all Greece.

It is generally accepted that the founder of organized monastic life at the site was Athanasios the Athonite who in 963 established the coenobium of Great Lavram which was financed by the emperor Nikeephoros Phokas. At this time, the monasteries of Zeropotamou, Vatopediou, Hagiou Pavlou, Zographou and the non Greek Iveron had been built. At the beginning of the 11th Century, the monasteries of Esphigmenou, Zenophontos, Docheiariou, Karakalou, Chelandariou, Stratoniketa, Philotheou and Panteleeimonos were completed, and the last of the monasteries, Kostamonitou and Koutloumousiou were built. The monk population on Mount Athos has reached over 7,000 by 1050.

This scenic piece of land has captured the imaginations of artists since the dawn of time, and even though very little is known about Jan Vochoc, and nothing about his artistic training, it is clear that this unknown yet talented artist was moved by the spectacular beauty of this holy place. The same must be true for Charles Crane, who was a staunch supporter of the monks, as evidenced by their letter of thanks to him from 1929 (fig. 1) for a gift of eggs and milk which were greatly appreciated. Ambassador Crane was very supportive of the monks, and fascinated with the Orthodox Church (fig. 2). It is not clear when Ambassador Crane purchased this painting or if he purchased it directly from the artist. There is no correspondence in the archive relating to this particular work.

(fig. 1) Document dated 18-31 March 1929; Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The Bakhmetseff Archive of Russian and East European History and Culture, The Crane Family papers, Box 6, Folder 4.

(Fig 2.) Charles R. Crane with members of the Orthodox Church