Founders of VENIS STUDIOS, Venizelos G. Gavrilakis and Vaia A. Karagianni, senior expert art conservators and restorers, led the conservation and restoration of a rare double-sided Byzantine icon dating from the 14th–16th centuries, located in the Church of Panagia Eleousa on the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul.

With the support of the Metropolis of the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul, VENIS STUDIOS carried out a comprehensive conservation project involving detailed examination, scientific investigation, and advanced conservation treatment.

During the process, a previously unknown reverse side of the icon, dating to the 14th century, was revealed beneath a sealed metal covering that had concealed it for centuries. The artwork was found in an extremely fragile and sensitive condition, requiring specialized intervention based on careful documentation, scientific analysis, and ethical conservation principles.

Scientific investigations, including material analysis and stratigraphic examination of the painted layers, conducted in collaboration with the Ormylia Foundation – Art Diagnosis Center, confirmed the complex historical development of the icon, revealing its connection to two significant periods of Byzantine artistic production: the 14th and 16th centuries.

The project was carried out following museum-grade conservation standards, ensuring the preservation of the icon’s historical authenticity, material integrity, and cultural significance for future generations.