Gheorghe Tattarescu
Encyclopedia
Gheorghe Tattarescu (ˈɡe̯orɡe tataˈresku; October 1818 - October 24, 1894) was a Moldavia
n-born Romania
n painter
and a pioneer of neoclassicism
in his country's modern painting.
in 1818. He started out as an apprentice to his uncle Nicolae Teodorescu
, a church painter. He went on to study at the Painting School from Buzău
, when Teodorescu moved there. The Orthodox
Bishop of Buzău, Chesarie, helped him obtain a scholarship
in Rome
, where he was taught by professors from the Accademia di San Luca
. While there, Tattarescu made copies paintings by Raphael
, Bartolomé Estéban Murillo
, Salvatore Rosa, and Guido Reni
.
Tattarascu was a participant in the 1848 Revolution in Wallachia
. After the revolution, he painted portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as Gheorghe Magheru
, Ştefan Golescu
, and, in 1851, that of Nicolae Bălcescu
(in three almost identical versions). Romantic nationalist
ideals were the inspiration for his allegorical compositions with revolutionary (Romania's rebirth, 1849) and patriotic (The Principalities' Unification
, 1857 and February 11 - The Modern Romania, 1866) themes.
landscapes became highly valued. At the same time, showing his sympathy with various peasant uprisings, he painted The peasant at the Danube
in 1875. He was also commissioned to decorate several churches in a neoclassical manner.
In 1864, together with painter Theodor Aman
, Tattarescu founded the National School of Fine Arts in Bucharest
; he was a professor there for a long time after, and served as the School's headmaster for two years (1891–1892).
In 1865, he wrote Useful Principles and Studies on Proportions of the Human Body and Drawing after the Most Famous Painters.
Tattarescu died in Bucharest. The house he bought in 1855 and lived in for almost 40 years is now home to the Gheorghe Tattarescu Memorial Museum. It was opened 1951, and hosts several of his original works of art.
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
n-born Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and a pioneer of neoclassicism
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
in his country's modern painting.
Early life and studies
Tattarescu was born in FocşaniFocsani
Focşani is the capital city of Vrancea County in Romania on the shores the Milcov river, in the historical region of Moldavia. It has a population of 101,854.-Geography:...
in 1818. He started out as an apprentice to his uncle Nicolae Teodorescu
Nicolae Teodorescu
Nicolae Teodorescu was a Moldavian-born Romanian church painter , and the uncle of artist Gheorghe Tattarescu.In 1831, he was called on by Chesarie, the Orthodox bishop of Buzău to open a school for church painters at the local bishopric...
, a church painter. He went on to study at the Painting School from Buzău
Buzau
The city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name...
, when Teodorescu moved there. The Orthodox
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
Bishop of Buzău, Chesarie, helped him obtain a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he was taught by professors from the Accademia di San Luca
Accademia di San Luca
The Accademia di San Luca, was founded in 1577 as an association of artists in Rome, under the directorship of Federico Zuccari, with the purpose of elevating the work of "artists", which included painters, sculptors and architects, above that of mere craftsmen. Other founders included Girolamo...
. While there, Tattarescu made copies paintings by Raphael
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino , better known simply as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form and ease of composition and for its visual achievement of the Neoplatonic ideal of human grandeur...
, Bartolomé Estéban Murillo
Bartolomé Estéban Murillo
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was a Spanish Baroque painter. Although he is best known for his religious works, Murillo also produced a considerable number of paintings of contemporary women and children...
, Salvatore Rosa, and Guido Reni
Guido Reni
Guido Reni was an Italian painter of high-Baroque style.-Biography:Born in Bologna into a family of musicians, Guido Reni was the son of Daniele Reni and Ginevra de’ Pozzi. As a child of nine, he was apprenticed under the Bolognese studio of Denis Calvaert. Soon after, he was joined in that...
.
Political activities
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
. After the revolution, he painted portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as Gheorghe Magheru
Gheorghe Magheru
General Gheorghe Magheru was a Romanian revolutionary and soldier from Wallachia, and political ally of Nicolae Bălcescu.-A Pandur and radical conspirator:...
, Ştefan Golescu
Stefan Golescu
Ştefan Golescu was a Wallachian Romanian politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for two terms from March 1, 1867 to August 5, 1867 and from November 13, 1867 to April 30, 1868, and as Prime Minister of Romania between November 26, 1867 and May 12, 1868.-Biography:Born in a boyar...
, and, in 1851, that of Nicolae Bălcescu
Nicolae Balcescu
Nicolae Bălcescu was a Romanian Wallachian soldier, historian, journalist, and leader of the 1848 Wallachian Revolution.-Early life:...
(in three almost identical versions). Romantic nationalist
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
ideals were the inspiration for his allegorical compositions with revolutionary (Romania's rebirth, 1849) and patriotic (The Principalities' Unification
Danubian Principalities
Danubian Principalities was a conventional name given to the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, which emerged in the early 14th century. The term was coined in the Habsburg Monarchy after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in order to designate an area on the lower Danube with a common...
, 1857 and February 11 - The Modern Romania, 1866) themes.
Later life and legacy
In 1860, being commissioned to draw up a National Album of sights and historical monuments of the country, his talent of painting vaguely RomanticRomanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
landscapes became highly valued. At the same time, showing his sympathy with various peasant uprisings, he painted The peasant at the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
in 1875. He was also commissioned to decorate several churches in a neoclassical manner.
In 1864, together with painter Theodor Aman
Theodor Aman
Theodor Aman was a Romanian painter of Armenian descent. His style is often considered to be a predecessor of Impressionism.He is buried in Bellu cemetery.-External links:...
, Tattarescu founded the National School of Fine Arts in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
; he was a professor there for a long time after, and served as the School's headmaster for two years (1891–1892).
In 1865, he wrote Useful Principles and Studies on Proportions of the Human Body and Drawing after the Most Famous Painters.
Tattarescu died in Bucharest. The house he bought in 1855 and lived in for almost 40 years is now home to the Gheorghe Tattarescu Memorial Museum. It was opened 1951, and hosts several of his original works of art.