This lot is subject to Artist's Resale right
George Pol. GEORGHIOU
Greek-Cypriot Priest
(in its original frame)106 x 8 cm
Provenance
From the estate of Taylor Garrison Belcher, former US Ambassador to Cyprus. The painting of the "Cypriot priest" was purchased by Mr & Mrs Belcher in Cyprus in the late 1950's.
Literature
A similar painting called "Harding's Nightmare" painted in 1958 is illustrated on pages 216/7 of "Georghios Polyviou Georghiou - His work 1942-1964" by Niki Loizidi and published by the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation. (see image)
Exhibited
Estimate
€ 12 000 - 20 000
Sold for € 42 497.00
The final sale price includes buyer's premium, VAT and artist's resale right (if applicable)
Notes
Taylor Garrison BELCHER, a career Foreign Service officer, was posted to Cyprus as U.S. Consul in 1957 and a year later as Consul General remaining there until 1960. Four years later President Lyndon Johnson appointed him as the United States Ambassador on Cyprus, a post he held for 5 years from 1964 to 1969.
After the eruption of violence between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots during his time in office, Belcher played an important role in reestablishing peace between the two communities. As a result of his peace-keeping abilities, he was awarded the State Department’s Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award.
In 1969 he left Cyprus for Peru where he was appointed ambas sador by President Richard Nixon. He served as ambassador to Peru until his retirement in 1974.
PHOTOGRAPHS DESCRIPTION
Photographs courtesy of Taylor Garrison Belcher’s family.
a) Ambassador Taylor Garrison Belcher in front of Agios Ilarion
b) This photograph was taken on the 4th of July 1965 at the American Embassy residence showing the ambassador’s wife, Mrs Edith Anthony Belcher seated at the front with visiting clerics from Kykkos monastery seated at the back.
Starting from left to right, the clerics of Kykkos Monastery were: Father Christoforos, Abbot Chrysostomos, Father Ka linikos, Father Porphyrios and Father Panaretos.The Pol Georghiou painting of the “Cypriot priest” can be seen hanging on the wa l on the left of Father Panaretos.