Onufri

Onufri, also known as Onuphrius, was a prominent Albanian painter and monk active during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is regarded as the founder of the Onufri school of Albanian Orthodox icon painting, a regional tradition that developed in central and southern Albania, with notable activity around Berat and its monastic centers and later in Voskopojë (now Voskopojë, Albania).

The Onufri school is characterized by a distinctive bright color palette, refined modeling of faces, and a sophisticated use of gold backgrounds. Onufri’s icons often depict the Virgin Mary, Christ, archangels, saints, and other religious subjects, combining Byzantine artistic conventions with local stylistic traits. His work is noted for its expressive yet formal figures, with attention to detail in drapery and facial features, reflecting a transitional style between medieval Byzantine influences and early modern Albanian religious art.

A prolific workshop tradition is attributed to Onufri, with commissions for churches and monasteries throughout the region. Through signed works and workshop outputs, he helped establish a recognizable Albanian iconographic program that influenced subsequent generations of painters in the area.

Several of Onufri’s icons and related works survive in churches across Albania and in regional museums. The Onufri Museum in Berat preserves a collection of icons attributed to him and connected with the Onufri school, illustrating the enduring legacy of this Albanian painting tradition.