The Cotroceni National Museum in partnership with the Arts Collector Society of Romania and in collaboration with the Country Museum Argeş -  the Art Gallery Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna Piteşti, the Museum of Visual Art Galaţi, The National Art Museum Romania, the Bucharest Municipality Museum, the National Brukenthal Museum Sibiu, the National Museum Moldova Iaşi - The Arts Section has organized on Thursday, June 23rd, 6pm, in the Medieval Spaces of the Cotroceni National Museum, the opening of the exhibition „Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna, 125 years since birth“.
            The exhibition is part of the project Cotroceni 20, on the 20th anniversary of the Cotroceni National  museum in the cultural space of Bucharest, a project that has also exhibited Theodor Aman and Iosif Iser. The Rudolf Schweitzer Cumpăna anniversary is also among the international events recommended by UNESCO.
            The painter Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna was born in Piteşti, on May 7th 1886 in a German family descendence. He leaves for Germany in 1904, where he attends the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, that he graduates in 1909. He studied painting with Adolf Schlabitz, Erich Hanche and Arthur Kampf, a period which meant getting acquainted to German Expressionism, Impressionism and Secession. In 1911 he exhibits for the first time at the Official Salon, then at the Artistic Youth, Romanian Athenauem, first in group exhibitions and then in personal exhibitions at Dalles Foudation, the Arts Institute, the Ileana Room but also in various cities such as Ploieşti (1924), Craiova (1926, 1971), Timişoara (1929), Brăila (1928), Piteşti (1960),Sinaia (1968) Râmnicu-Sărat (1969), Buzău (1970).
            His travels were also a source of inspiration: such as the study trip to Budapest, and a work campaign in Salonic, Athens and Constantinople. Between 1931 and 1932 the artist traveled to Paris, where he exhibited at the Jeanne Castel Gallery. In 1939 he traveled and worked intensely in Italy (Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples, San Remo), but also in Munchen and Augsburg)
            In 1951 he was appointed professor at the Ioan Grigorescu Fine Arts Academy in Bucharest and he also becomes a member of the Artists Union. On his 70th anniversary, the National Arts Museum organized a retrospective exhibition, gathering 278 paintings and 159 graphics. Also in 1957 he takes a documentary trip in former Yugoslavia and this is also the year he is awarded with the Master of Art national distinction. He passed away in Bucharest,  on February 17th 1975, at 89.
            A natural talent and accomplished in drawing and watercolour,  Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna tackled  a diverse thematic, starting from daily life in the country side and the life of the peasant, scenery, still nature, portraits of peasants: especially peasants from Arefu and Argeș, and places seen during his travels, self-portraits and nudes.

            The exhibition Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpana gathers together 120 works of art, dating from the beginnings of his work to the last part of his creative period, works given either by the Society of Collectors, that has had a generous collaboration with the Cotroceni National Museum in the last 20 years, but also thanks to the always generous contribution of the collaborating museums.
            The exhibition is open between June 23rd and August 31st and can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, between 9.30 and 5.30 pm.
            The exhibition is also accompanied by a catalog which can be acquired from the museum shop, during your visit.
            Main Sponsor: BRD Groupe Societe Generale.
            Main Partner: Apa Nova.
            Partner: Konika Minolta.