The Execution of Beloyannis
- Artist: Peter de Francia
- Date: 1953–4
- Medium: Oil paint on board
- Dimensions: frame: 1245 x 3075 x 70 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “The Execution of Beloyannis” by Peter de Francia. Painted in 1953–54, it captures a grim moment from Greece’s post‑war turmoil, when the communist leader Nikolaos Beloyannis was executed in 1950. De Francia, a British artist, uses stark, muted tones to convey the sense of dread and injustice. The work is oil on board, and the heavy brushwork gives the scene a feeling of weight and gravity. In the composition, a lone figure in a draped coat stands under harsh light, the surrounding space dark and oppressive, suggesting the atmosphere of a court or a gallows. The painting’s political message is clear: it is a protest against authoritarian brutality and a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who stood for their convictions. De Francia’s style, influenced by the social realist tradition, makes this piece feel both immediate and timeless. It serves as a powerful visual reminder of the cost of political repression and the enduring spirit of resistance.
See it in person
The Execution of Beloyannis is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
