Portrait painting is one of the most popular themes among Ionian painters as many members of the islands’ upper class wish to be immortalized in this way, thereby enhancing their social status as well as donning themselves in an aura of eternity. Kallivokas is considered to be the pioneer of Ionian portrait painting who outlined its main features. The rigid and inflexible posture of the faces, accentuated by the dark uniform background; the detailed drawing rendering the painter’s thorough observation; and the presence of a plethora of descriptive elements, are the main features that characterize not just this double portrait but Ionian portrait painting as a whole.

The couple displayed, clothed in its dressy outfit, is looking straight at the painter-viewer and eloquently revealing the social position of men and women. The robust, self-confident posture of the husband in the foreground is juxtaposed to the furtive cowardice in the gaze of the wife, who is resting her hand on the man’s shoulder as if in search of support, herself remaining always in the middle ground.