Jean Altamoura, one of Greece’s foremost 19th-century seascape artists, was born in Florence to Eleni Boukoura and Saverio-Francesco Altamoura, both accomplished painters. After the dissolution of her marriage, Boukoura moved with her three children to Athens, where Jean’s artistic talent was nurtured under her guidance.
In 1871, Altamoura further honed his skills at the Athens School of Fine Arts, studying under Nikiforos Lytras. His exceptional promise earned him a prestigious scholarship from King George I to study in Copenhagen, where he attended the Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi from 1873 to 1876. There, he studied under the renowned seascape painter C.F. Sorensen, whose influence, combined with Copenhagen’s vibrant maritime culture, shaped his distinctive approach to seascapes.
Altamoura’s work was deeply influenced by the rich
traditions of 17th-century Dutch painting, the 18thcentury Italian school, and the broader European seascape tradition. This is clear in The Port of Copenhagen (1874), an exemplary work that captures the bustling energy and atmospheric quality of Copenhagen’s harbor. The painting, signed and dated in the lower right corner, demonstrates Altamoura’s mastery of light, texture,
and the fluidity of water, capturing a moment in time with both realism and elegance.
By the age of 24, Altamoura had already garnered
widespread acclaim and was fully supported by the
Greek Royal Court. Tragically, his career was cut short when he succumbed to tuberculosis in 1878, just two years after returning to the island of Spetses to recover. Despite his untimely death, his legacy was cemented posthumously when two of his works were exhibited at the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris.
Today, his paintings are held in prominent collections, including the National Gallery of Greece, the Leventis Gallery, and the Averoff Gallery, as well as numerous private collections worldwide. The Port of Copenhagen remains a testament to Altamoura’s extraordinary talent and his lasting contribution to the tradition of European seascape painting.