12. Travelling Artists in Cyprus: 1700-1960 with Rita Severis

The canvas isn't simply a medium that the artist uses to capture an image. The paintbrush can be loaded with preconceived notions, biases and agendas. What is more, it can be revealing in ways never considered and provide a unique lens into the past. Rita Severis (the Co-Founder of the Costas & Rita Severis Foundation and Honorary Consul of Canada) is this month's guest. And for this month's episode, Rita shares with the History of Cyprus Podcast, a new lens in which to explore Cypriot history: that of the travelling artist. To borrow from her book jacket, her research "examines these works through the prism of the political, historical and social context, spanning three centuries...and throws light on the changes from the Ottoman/Oriental to the British/Occidental in the portrayal of both domestic and public scenes." Please visit the CVAR website to learn more about the cultural history of Cyprus: https://cvar.severis.org/en/ The heart of the Foundation, the Centre of Visual Arts & Research, which houses thousands of books, works of art, textiles and memorabilia, is a "non-profit organisation for the promotion of Cypriot culture, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence."