Nikolaos Panagiotatos was born in Argostoli in 1903. At the age of three, he became an orphan of his father. His mother, an admirable woman, fought to provide him with an education, and from a young age, he displayed his artistic talents.

During his elementary education and in his free time, he worked at the café of Kostas Melas, a mandolin enthusiast. While working there, he would remove the mandolin hanging on the wall of the establishment and play pieces previously played by Kostas Melas and his friend Gerasimos Kolaitis, a skilled luthier.

He attended the Gymnasium of Argostoli, where he met the painter and iconographer Georgios Mourouzelatos, who had a workshop nearby. This encounter brought him into contact with the world of painting, colors, and composition. He asked Mourouzelatos to initiate him into the art of colors, and as a form of compensation, the young Nikolaos would assist him in his outdoor work.

During the same period, he also had the opportunity to meet and serve several French soldiers at the Argostoli Hospital, when their ships were in the city’s harbor during the First World War. As a form of compensation, they would give him a can of food and half a loaf of bread daily, as he writes in his autobiographical page, complementing it with, “This made me feel grateful to the French people.” He expressed his gratitude to the President of the French Republic, Ziscar d’Estaing, when he visited Athens in 1975. The President awarded him a painting depicting Argostoli.

In 1919, he moved to Piraeus and from 1920 to 1940, he was involved in calligraphy, interior decoration, and iconography, while also engaging in music.

He enrolled in the Philharmonic Society of Piraeus under the tutelage of Archimusicologist Vasileios Soutsos (1885-1968). After a five-year course in vocal music, solfège, and other musical knowledge, he moved to Kefalonia. Through his friend Panaghi Marcatou (Alexandras), he met the renowned composer and conductor Dimitris Mitropoulos. Mitropoulos, in turn, introduced him to composer Philoktitis Oikonomidis (1889-1957). Oikonomidis took him into his famous choir (Choir of Athens), which was based in Piraeus.

While in Oikonomidis’ choir, he met Menelaos Pallantios (1914-2012), composers, choir directors, and university professors. Among them were Panaghi Glykofrydis (1893-1944) and Alekos Ainian (1907-1983). In the latter (and his teacher in counterpoint and harmony), he wrote in his biography, “apart from Philoktitis Oikonomidis, I owe my radical vocal development to him.”

In 1929, while continuing his musical studies, he maintained a painting workshop in Piraeus (on Efstathiou and Ypsilantou streets). He formed a quartet of night musicians with D. Antypa (first mandolin), Marinos Drakontaeidis (second mandolin), Christos Farantouri (guitar), and himself (mandola in solfege). In its seven-year tenure, the quartet developed a rich repertoire of Greek and Italian composers and was invited to several radio broadcasts in the E.I.R.

In 1936, he directed a choir in collaboration with the renowned bass singer Nikos Zachariou. He also created the ‘Choir of the Railway Workers of the Central Works of S.P.A.E.’, with 32 choral singers, which was performed in 1936 at the Acropolis of Pallas. It was presented along with the female choir ‘Choir of the Workshop’ by Panaghi Glykofrydis (on the piano) and in the presence of Ioannis Metaxas and King George II.

In 1937, he met the then president of the Kefalonia Brotherhood and the president of the Commercial Committee, with whom he created mandolin and choir compositions. These performances were successful, and they received excellent reviews, particularly from the renowned music critic Alexandra Lalaouni. In these performances, he starred as a soloist, accompanied by his friend and tenor Zanis Kampanis.

Parallel to his musical activities, he continued his artistic creation. In 1939, he participated in the “1st Panhellenic Exhibition” at Zappeion. One of his paintings was purchased by King George II, and the Greek Artistic Committee, with a ministerial order, included it in their collection.

In 1946, after his release, he collaborated with fellow artists Vasilis Ant. Ferti, Ilias Syringo, and Georgios Ant. Kanas in the advertising company “Edo” for five years.

In 1947, along with educator George Balomenos and physical education instructor Gogo Doka, he founded the “School of Fine Arts” in which he taught music and painting. The school’s building was opposite the Piraeus Police Directorate. There, he met Police Chief Gerasimos Liaromatis, who commissioned him to create mandolin compositions for all the police departments, performed by officers who knew mandolin and guitar. This composition was accompanied by a select group of choral singers from the choir of Georgios Tsaras. A memorable performance of this work was the “Venetian Evening,” a significant event that was unfortunately disbanded for political reasons.

The same choir provided music for the distribution of food and clothing from the Americans to the many orphaned children remaining after the Occupation and the bombing of Athens on January 11, 1944. The distribution was recorded in a film that was shown in many parts of the world.

In 1963, he moved to Kefalonia for iconography work in some churches. He took the opportunity to create choirs and children’s mandolin compositions in Argostoli. The inspiration for this work was the Prefect of Achaia, Nikos Matarangas. When Matarangas became the Prefect of Achaia, he invited him to Patras, along with the mandolin and choir, which was a great success.

He gave many performances in Kefalonia, especially at the Argostoli Stadium. The most notable performance was on August 16, 1967, where the children’s mandolin composition accompanied the famous baritone and lyricist Nikos Moschonas in the first part. In the second part, the soprano and mezzo-soprano, Maria Keresetzi, accompanied by Dionysia Chalimida on the piano, interpreted “Phosphoros.” In his biography, he wrote about this memorable endeavor: “Despite the many sad reasons, this beautiful work faded away.” However, several members of the children’s mandolin composition remained in Athens and later participated in concerts with baritone Andreas Kouloumbis and tenor Evangelos Galanidis in Piraeus and Athens.

The Argostoli Mandolin Composition had a five-year tenure (from 1967 to 1972). Many of its members became notable musicians, and their artistic activity continues to this day. It is worth mentioning the distinguished performers of this outstanding mandolin composition: Katerina Ant. Vangelatou-Nikolatou, Gerasimos Nikolatou, Kostas Spyronikolatos Vangelatou, Anna Dionysiou Vardaramatou, Eleni Dionysiou Vardaramatou, Anna Dionysiou Vardaramatou, Yiannis Gerasimou Gasparinatou, Dionysios Gerasimou Gasparinatou, Gerasimos Georgiou Kounadis, Despina Georgiou Kounadou, Theodora Georgiou Kounadou, Gerasimos Haralambous Kappatou, Eleni I. Lorentzatou, Maria I. Lorentzatou, Roubina Kostamatou, Niki Papanikolaou Mazara, Eirini G. Meletti, Athina Marquetou, Vangelis Marquetou, Dionysios Mytilatou, Ant. Bambouki, Georgia Bambouki, Angeliki Neofytou, Maria Papadou Alisandrato Meletti, Christina Meletti Papadou, Katerina Papadimitriou, Georgia K. Potamiano, Spyros Gerasimou Stamatato, Eirini G. Stefanato, Chara I. Spyridato, Chloe I. Spyridato, Marianthi Marinou Tzanato, Chrysoula Rokkou Charitatou, Koula A. Christakopoulou-Dractas.

His stay in Kefalonia was productive as he participated in group painting exhibitions (in all the Ionian Islands) with Kefalonian painters Kosmetatos, Ntianos Antoniakatos, Panaghi Gabrielatos, Petaloudis, and others.

He was a prolific artistic personality, leaving a significant mark wherever he participated. His motto – “keep the tone” – always had an educational and moral connotation.

As a painter, he participated in the Panhellenic Exhibitions of the years: 1939, 1942, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1973. He also participated in numerous individual and group exhibitions in various cities of Greece and in over thirty group exhibitions. His paintings are scattered throughout the Greek territory, France, Germany, and America, in collections of Greeks and foreigners, public institutions, and charitable foundations. In the book “56 Greek Painters Speak about Their Art” by G. Voutsinas, there is an extensive reference to Nikolaos Panagiotatos as a visual artist.

Nikolaos Panagiotatos passed away on April 17, 1980.