The Aristides Glykas Collection

Aristides Glykas or Malagritsis was born in Patos of Vrontados, Chios in 1870. A self-taught folk painter, it is questionable whether he finished the third grade of elementary school. He became a sailor and left seafaring at the age of 37, choosing to work solely on painting ships, sailboats, and steamships.

He soon became well-known and began to receive orders not only from Chios but from many other parts of Greece. He settled permanently in Piraeus in 1916 on Botsaris Street. He frequented “Chiotika”, the cafe belonging to Stavros Minas, where he also took commissions.

Around 1928 he sold each work for 25 drachmas (at that time the exchange rate was 1 British pound to 20 drachmas), by 1938 his work went for 100 drachmas.

Most of his works are watercolours, although towards the end of his life he also painted in oils.

He died in Piraeus, on April 6, 1940.