Damiane

Damiane (; fl. 14th century) was a medieval Georgian religious mural and fresco painter active in the Kingdom of Georgia. He is best known for his fresco decoration of the Church of Saint George at the Ubisi Monastery. Damiane's exceptional painted ensembles were an evolution of a high Georgian artisanship, and a witness to the direct and high-level cultural communication between Georgia and Byzantium. Damiane also might have been a religious and ecclesiastical figure at Ubisi as well.

==Life== thumb|300px|In a fresco of the Ancient of Days painted by Damiane, the higher parts of the Ubisi vault are occupied by three medallions in a row, with Jesus as Pantocrator, and the Procession of the symbolical dove of the Holy Spirit depicted with the scenes of the Annunciation and of the Nativity. The procession of the Holy Spirit is combined with the Baptism, the Transfiguration and the [[Pentecost. Mural is dated around the middle of the 14th century.]] Even though not a lot of historical bio has survived about Damiane's life, he was one of the few medieval Georgian artists whose name has been long celebrated during and after the Georgian Golden Age alongside his work itself, which is indicative of his social status and standing within the Georgian monarchy. Damiane combined and merged the Georgian painting fundamentals with contemporary artistic influences from the Palaeologan Renaissance of the Byzantine Empire, the Balkans and the Kievan Rus. His painting style would depict the figures with early realism and a humanistic approach. He would deviate from strict religious and iconographic rigidity and give a strong character perspective, space and emotional expression. The most important frescoes attributed to him in the Church of St. George at Ubisi would include Creation of the World, Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Last Supper. He would mark his frescos with Georgian Asomtavruli inscription stating his name "humble Damiane", to indicate the name of the author. There is also an iscription stating certain "poor sinful Gerasime" and it is suggested that he was a pupil or collaborator of Damiane.