Theodor Aman
Theodor Aman | |
---|---|
![]() Self-portrait (1851) | |
Born | Câmpulung-Muscel,Wallachia(today Romania) | 20 March 1831
Died | 19 August 1891 | (aged 60)
Resting place | Bellu Cemetery,Bucharest |
Education | Michel Martin Drolling,Constantin Lecca,François-Édouard Picot,Carol Wallenstein |
Known for | Painting, engraving |
Theodor Aman(20 March 1831 – 19 August 1891) was aRomanianpainter, engraver and art professor. He mostly producedgenreand history scenes.[1]
Biography
[edit]His father was a cavalry commander fromCraiovabut he was born in Câmpulung, where his family had fled to escape the plague.[2]After displaying an early affinity for art, he took his first lessons withConstantin Lecca[3]andCarol Wallenstein de VellaatCarol I National College.In 1850, he went to Paris, where he studied briefly withMichel Martin Drollingthen, after Drolling's death, withFrançois-Édouard Picot.[3]While there, he became part of the Romanian revolutionary circles. In 1853 he has his first display at theSalonin Paris, showing hisAutoportrait.[1]While in Paris, he became friends with other like-minded artists and Romanian revolutionaries such asNicolae Bălcescu,and the writersDimitrie Bolintineanu,andCezar Bolliac.In this environment, influenced by revolutionary ideas, Aman completed the historical themed painting “Mihai VIteazul’s First Night”,which was inspired by the writings of Bolintineanu.[1]
As a result of his strong patriotic sentiments, he participated in the Romanian Revolution of 1848 along with Ioan Maiorescu, Eugeniu Carada, and other revolutionaries.[1]
After that, he went to Istanbul in an effort to sell some paintings to the Sultan and visitedSevastopolduring theCrimean War,creating history paintings with themes related to Romania's nationalist aspirations.[2]In 1855, he presented one of his best-known works, depicting theBattle of Alma,at theExposition Universelle.
He returned to Romania in 1857, settling in Bucharest where he starts the foundation of his school theBucharest National University of Arts.[1]
When he returned home, he was knighted by PrinceBarbu Dimitrie Știrbeiand presented with a scholarship to continue his studies in Paris, where he came under the influence of theBarbizon school.After a brief stay in Rome, he returned to Bucharest.
In 1864, he andGheorghe Tattarescuconvinced Romania's ruler,Alexandru Ioan Cuza,to establish the "National School of Fine Arts" (now known as the Bucharest National University of Arts). Aman was appointed its first director and held that position until his death.[2]
Theodor Aman remained headmaster of the school until his death. In 1889 and 1890 he displayed his work in exhibits at theNew Museum.At this point in his career he chose to focus on painting still life, and small portraits.[4]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Bellu_130222_81.jpg/220px-Bellu_130222_81.jpg)
He died on 19 August 1891 due to a prostate infection.[1]
In 1908 his Bucharest his home and workshop was converted into theTheodor Aman Museumin dedication to his life and works. The museum is one of the oldest memorial museums in Romania and houses a large number of Aman paintings. The exhibit” Theodor Aman — painter and engraver” was inaugurated on March 24, 2011, at theControceni National Museum.The exhibit” The mysteries of Theodor Aman’s painting,” was inaugurated at the Theodor Aman Museum on December 23, 2014.[4]
In 2014, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the school's founding,Poșta Românăissued a commemorative stamp with Aman's likeness.[4]
Selected paintings
[edit]-
Gypsy Girl
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First Workshop in Paris
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Street inCâmpulung
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Vlad the Impalerand the Turkish Envoys
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Portrait ofTudor Vladimirescu
References
[edit]- ^abcdefFiruta, Corina (2009).Theodor Aman.Romania: Monitorul Oficial. p. 33.ISBN978-973-96752-4-6.
- ^abc"Pictorul care a copilărit în curtea bisericii"(The Painter who Grew Up in the Churchyard) fromZiarul Lumina,6 January 2010 ,
- ^abBrief biographyArchived2015-04-02 at theWayback Machine@ Welcome to Romania.
- ^abc"DOCUMENTAR: 127 de ani de la moartea pictorului Theodor Aman – Radio România Cultural".Retrieved2019-11-14.
Further reading
[edit]- Vasile Florea and Călin Dan,Th.Aman,Ministry of Culture, 1984
- Teodor Simionescu and Adriana Gănescu,Theodor Aman 1831–1891,museum catalog, Fondul Plastic Arts, 1971
- B. Mosescu-Maciuca,Theodor Aman,Meridians, 1962
- Radu Bogdan,Theodor Aman,Editura de Stat Pentru Literatură și Artă, 1955
- Theodor Aman 1831–1891,Rumanian Institute for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, 1954
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Aman, între conștiința istorică și hedonism(Between Historical Consciousness and Hedonism) by Adrian Silvan Ionescu fromZiarul de Duminică,6 April 2011
- Muzeul Theodor Aman@ Muzeul Municipiului București
- 1831 births
- 1891 deaths
- Artists from the Principality of Wallachia
- People from Câmpulung
- Romanian people of Armenian descent
- Carol I National College alumni
- 19th-century Romanian painters
- Romanian graphic designers
- Romanian printmakers
- Members of the Romanian Academy elected posthumously
- Burials at Bellu Cemetery