Lampardos was born in Rethymno Crete. He was a member of a prominent family. His father's name was Papa-Nicholas. He had an active workshop in Heraklion. His entire family were painters. His brothers were Pierou and Tzane Lampardos. His nephews were famous painters Emmanuel, Mari, Tzortzi, Nicholas, and Stamati Lampardos. The second Emmanuel Lampardos which historians have a hard time distinguishing from the first was the son of Pierou. The only information available about Emmanuel
Lampardos the Elder are notary archives from 1587 until 1631. One such record discusses the sale of a vineyard, the name on the contract was Manolitzis Lampardos, son of the Papa-Nikolaos.[6]
Emmanuel Lampardos the Younger was also born in Rethymno Crete his father was Pierou. It is difficult to distinguish the younger from the elder. His brothers were Mari and Tzortzi. He is mentioned in records from 1623 to about 1641. In the first record, he is mentioned as a witness in notarized documents. He is also referred to as Manolitzis the nickname for Emmanuel. In 1641, he signed a contract with famous painter Tzortzi Papadopoulo for the payment of a painting by Franghias Kavertzas. The final record of Emmanuel Lampardos the Younger was as a witness on July 21, 1644.[7]
There is no way to separate the elder from the younger. Research is still underway in the field of the Cretan School to correctly attribute the signatures and painting styles. The paintings were signed χείρ 'Εμμανουήλ του Λαμπάρδου, χείρ Έμαννουήλ Λαμπάρδου, του Λαμπάρδου, Εμμανουήλ του Λαμπάρδου χείρ, χειρ Εμ[μ]αν[ουηλ]. The artists known as Emmanuel Lampardos have influenced countless Greek and Italian painters and the family Lampardos had many very famous painters. Many of their works survive today.[8]