An Assessment on the Fresco Decoration and the Content of an Inscription in Theotokos’ Church in Cercke, near Leskovik

The main subject of this paper is the fresco decoration of the church of St. Mary in the village of Cercke, near Leskovik. Attention has been devoted to some thematically innovative motifs and in the analysis of stylistic features, which reveal their affiliation in the artistic tradition occurred in a broader area in South Albania and western Macedonia in the course of 14th century. Another subject discussed in this paper is an inscription, which mentions the name of a certain Michael. Although its content reveals an introductory formula usually applied to indicate patronage, the author of this paper recognizes the signature of the painter and argues that similar inscriptions mentioning painters’ name are found in Albania since Middle Byzantine period. Another inscription of the same period mentioning the name of Michael is found at the church of St. George tou Vounou in Kastoria (1385). Keywords: Cercke; South Albania; fresco painting; paleologan; Michael.