Ascension of Christ with the Hetoimasia

Ritzos employed the traditional tempera method on panel, building layers of egg‑based pigment to achieve the luminous reds, blues, and golds characteristic of the *maniera greca*. The figures are rendered with the flat, linear outlines and stylised drapery typical of Byzantine iconography, while the gold background unifies the composition and emphasizes its spiritual focus.

The painting entered the collection of the National Museum of Western Art, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Ritzos situates it within the early phase of the Cretan School, a period when Greek artists began to synthesize Byzantine tradition with emerging Western influences.

The inclusion of imperial and monastic saints reflects the 15th‑century Byzantine practice of linking theological themes with contemporary political authority. By portraying Constantine alongside ascendant Christ, the work underscores the perceived continuity between the founding emperor’s Christian legacy and the divine narrative of salvation.