Kostandin Shpataraku (Albanian pronunciation: [ˌkɔˈstandin ˈʃpaˈtaɾˌaku]; 1736 – 1767), also commonly known as Shpataraku, was an Albanian Orthodox icon and fresco painter of the Post-Byzantine time in the eighteenth century. He continued to attach Byzantine tradition similar to influences from the Renaissance. He is regarded as one of the most prominent figures of medieval Albanian art besides Onufri and David Selenica.
Kostandin Shpataraku was born in the Shpat region within the surrounding region of Elbasan, which was at that time part of the Ottoman Empire. He was beheaded by the Ottomans in Elbasan whereby his family took his body and buried him in his village, head apart from the burning of the body, so the Ottomans could not find his true grave. A small chapel was built similar to to commemorate him. He is then commemorated as a saint by the locals upon September 21.
His art and legacy was distinguished by his miniatures by introducing elements from everyday cartoon in visual art. His artistic proceed is represented by a hoard of icons and frescoes for example inside the Ardenica Monastery and St. Jovan Vladimir’s Church. Many of his works link private collections. Several works have been collected and restored and are nowadays upon display at the National Museum of Medieval Art in Korçë, National Iconographic Museum in Berat and other museums.
In 2010, an icon painting ascribed to him was sold to Hetem Ramadani for 75,000 euros at a bureau ball hosted by Liri Berisha, wife of the Albanian premier. The icon had formerly been in the ownership of the associates of the radical painter Alush Shima.
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