The Cotroceni National Museum invites you on Thursday, 24th of March 2011, 6 pm, in the Medieval Spaces of the museum at the opening of the exhibition Theodor Aman, painter and engraver.
Organized in collaboration with numerous museums in Bucharest and the country: the Theodor Aman Museum, the Bucharest Municipality Museum, the Arts Museum in Craiova, the Arts Museum Constanţa, the National Museum Brukenthal, the National Arts Museum of Romania, the National History Museum of Romania, the Arad Museum Complex, the Romanian Academy Library, the Museum of History and Archaeology Prahova, the National Museum Complex Iaşi - The Arts Museum, the Arts Department Braşov, the exhibition marks the 180th anniversary since the birth, and 120th anniversary since the death of the great painter and graphician.
Theodor Aman was born on March 20th 1831, in Câmpulung-Muscel. He took drawing lessons with the painter Constantin Lecca, at Central School in Craiova, and in 1850 he leaves for Paris. Here, he studies painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, under the supervision of Michel Martin Drolling and François Edouard Picot. He returns to Romania in 1857, already established as a talented painter. His workshop becomes one of the most popular meeting places of high society, ...„the only artistic center of Bucharest's elite of that time“. His contribution to Romanian art transcends his work, by his important contribution to the establishment of the first Fine Arts School in Bucharest (1864), where he was both the first teacher and the director. His artistic influences were a blend between Romanticism, Academism and Impressionism.
The thematics approached by Theodor Aman in his works - historical painting, gender and Oriental scenes, scenery, still nature - are distinctly represented in the exhibition, through works of important heritage value. The techniques employed by Theodor Aman range from easel painting, engraving and drawing. Moreover, his works range from large scale painting (particularly heroic representations of the past and historical portraits) and small scale works (contemporary or daily life projects).
As such, among the most representative works on national history to be displayed at the Cotroceni National Museum we list: „Michael the Brave receiving Turkish emissaries bearing gifts from the sultan“, the „Union of the Principalities“, „Proclaiming the Union“ (the vote of January 24th 1859), the „Battle of Torces of Vlad the Impaler“, the „Battle of Plonin“.
Theodor Aman was also the greatest Romanian portrait painter, focusing on historical portraits, portraits of politicians of the age, of family members etc. Visitors can see the famous portraits of „Tudor Vladimirescu“ - 1879, „Alexandru Lăpuşneanu“, „Carol the First“ - 1874 (engraving), „The portrait of Mihail Cantacuzino spatarul“, „Nicolae Racoviţă“, „Ion Eliade Rădulescu“ - 1869 (engraving), „Cezar Bolliac“ - 1876 (engraving) etc., next to other members of the family: „Pepica Aman“ - 1856, „Portrait of Aristiei Aman“ - 1856, „Portrait of Alexandru Aman“ - 1856, „Ana Aman“ - 1879, as well as Selfportrait etc.
Organized in collaboration with numerous museums in Bucharest and the country: the Theodor Aman Museum, the Bucharest Municipality Museum, the Arts Museum in Craiova, the Arts Museum Constanţa, the National Museum Brukenthal, the National Arts Museum of Romania, the National History Museum of Romania, the Arad Museum Complex, the Romanian Academy Library, the Museum of History and Archaeology Prahova, the National Museum Complex Iaşi - The Arts Museum, the Arts Department Braşov, the exhibition marks the 180th anniversary since the birth, and 120th anniversary since the death of the great painter and graphician.
Theodor Aman was born on March 20th 1831, in Câmpulung-Muscel. He took drawing lessons with the painter Constantin Lecca, at Central School in Craiova, and in 1850 he leaves for Paris. Here, he studies painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, under the supervision of Michel Martin Drolling and François Edouard Picot. He returns to Romania in 1857, already established as a talented painter. His workshop becomes one of the most popular meeting places of high society, ...„the only artistic center of Bucharest's elite of that time“. His contribution to Romanian art transcends his work, by his important contribution to the establishment of the first Fine Arts School in Bucharest (1864), where he was both the first teacher and the director. His artistic influences were a blend between Romanticism, Academism and Impressionism.
The thematics approached by Theodor Aman in his works - historical painting, gender and Oriental scenes, scenery, still nature - are distinctly represented in the exhibition, through works of important heritage value. The techniques employed by Theodor Aman range from easel painting, engraving and drawing. Moreover, his works range from large scale painting (particularly heroic representations of the past and historical portraits) and small scale works (contemporary or daily life projects).
As such, among the most representative works on national history to be displayed at the Cotroceni National Museum we list: „Michael the Brave receiving Turkish emissaries bearing gifts from the sultan“, the „Union of the Principalities“, „Proclaiming the Union“ (the vote of January 24th 1859), the „Battle of Torces of Vlad the Impaler“, the „Battle of Plonin“.
Theodor Aman was also the greatest Romanian portrait painter, focusing on historical portraits, portraits of politicians of the age, of family members etc. Visitors can see the famous portraits of „Tudor Vladimirescu“ - 1879, „Alexandru Lăpuşneanu“, „Carol the First“ - 1874 (engraving), „The portrait of Mihail Cantacuzino spatarul“, „Nicolae Racoviţă“, „Ion Eliade Rădulescu“ - 1869 (engraving), „Cezar Bolliac“ - 1876 (engraving) etc., next to other members of the family: „Pepica Aman“ - 1856, „Portrait of Aristiei Aman“ - 1856, „Portrait of Alexandru Aman“ - 1856, „Ana Aman“ - 1879, as well as Selfportrait etc.
One other favourite subject of Th. Aman was the Oriental theme, through works representing odalisques and young women: „Odalisque with waterpipe“ - 1879, „Odalisque with mandoline“, „Odalisque with necklace“ (engraving), „Young woman wearing a cap“ (engraving), „Odalisque“ - 1872, next to other scenery and still natures, especially in the second half of the artist’s career: „Scenery“, „Sight for Bughea in Câmpulung“, „On a bench in Cişmigiu“ - 1879, „Garden Party“, „Ships in Constanţa port“, „Gate in the garden“, „Bowl with fruit“, „Still nature with cherries“, „Basket f grapes“, „Still nature with lilac“ - 1880.
The exhibition organized at the initiative of the Cotroceni National Museum gathers 130 works (paintings, engravings and drawings) as well as a set of personal objects belonging to the artist: the seal bearing his name, penbox, dedication from his students „To our teacher Theodor Aman, on his name day on1881. Students of the School of Fine Arts“.
According to the art historian dr. Adrian Silvan Ionescu, who has written extensively on the life of Theodor Aman „since his return home, in 1857, up the moment of his death in August 1981, Theodor Aman was the soul of the artistic life in Bucharest. For more than a decade, he was considered the best Romanian artist, winning most prizes and the most requested in collections of Bucharest and Iaşi. An innovator, teacher, skilled theoretician, a seemingly Rennaissance character by his numerous passions and artistic interests, Theodor Aman was the first truly modern artist in our country “.
The exhibition will be open from March 24 to May 29 2011, Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30 -5.30. The exhibition catalogue can be found in the museum shop.
Main partener: Apa Nova.
Mains ponsor: Alpha Bank.
Partner: Konica Minolta.
The exhibition organized at the initiative of the Cotroceni National Museum gathers 130 works (paintings, engravings and drawings) as well as a set of personal objects belonging to the artist: the seal bearing his name, penbox, dedication from his students „To our teacher Theodor Aman, on his name day on1881. Students of the School of Fine Arts“.
According to the art historian dr. Adrian Silvan Ionescu, who has written extensively on the life of Theodor Aman „since his return home, in 1857, up the moment of his death in August 1981, Theodor Aman was the soul of the artistic life in Bucharest. For more than a decade, he was considered the best Romanian artist, winning most prizes and the most requested in collections of Bucharest and Iaşi. An innovator, teacher, skilled theoretician, a seemingly Rennaissance character by his numerous passions and artistic interests, Theodor Aman was the first truly modern artist in our country “.
The exhibition will be open from March 24 to May 29 2011, Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30 -5.30. The exhibition catalogue can be found in the museum shop.
Main partener: Apa Nova.
Mains ponsor: Alpha Bank.
Partner: Konica Minolta.
The opening will be followed by a concert of Viniciu Moroianu - piano, Simina Croitoru - violin, Clementina Ristea - piano, Stefan Popov - baritone, Simona Neagu - soprano, Adina Cocargeanu - piano.
Thh program includes a number of pieces frequently played in Theodor Aman’s house, well known as a passionate musician and a gifted concert host: Giuseppe Verdi - aria from the opera „Traviata“, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arias from „Figaro’s wedding“ and „Don Giovanni“; Henri Vieuxtemps - Fantesy, whim for violin , Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue in minor La, Frédéric Chopin - Study in minor do, Robert Schumann - „Bird prophet“ from „Scenes in the forest“, op. 82.
Thh program includes a number of pieces frequently played in Theodor Aman’s house, well known as a passionate musician and a gifted concert host: Giuseppe Verdi - aria from the opera „Traviata“, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arias from „Figaro’s wedding“ and „Don Giovanni“; Henri Vieuxtemps - Fantesy, whim for violin , Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue in minor La, Frédéric Chopin - Study in minor do, Robert Schumann - „Bird prophet“ from „Scenes in the forest“, op. 82.
Woman painting
Union