Dionysius of Fourna

Who was Dionysius of Fourna?

Dionysius of Fourna was an Eastern Orthodox author of a manual of iconography and painting in the 18th century. He was born in Fourna, the Ottoman Empire, and went to study in Constantinople around the age of twelve before returning, as a monk, to Mt. Athos. He painted several icons in Mt. Athos, although the dates are indistinct and at Karyes. In 1721, he painted the chapel of St. Demetrios in Vatopedi. He then returned to live in Fourna. His last official entry into public record is in 1741, when he gained permission to start a school at Agrafa.

Dionysius's Hermeneia attempts to provide a synthetic Gospel account of the life of Jesus Christ. His time line and events are mainly from the Book of Matthew, but he weaves in major incidents from the other synoptic Gospels. The manual is also called Mount Athos Painter's Guide and is in three parts. In general, it is a chronological listing of scenes appropriate for painting, along with a proper inscription for the painter to include to make the icon, as well as the proper position in the church for each scene. The first part of the work gives recipes for colors, gesso, and instructions on body proportions for human figure painting.