40. Galatea (Artist's Wife, Elena Stoicescu) [cca. 1951]

The present portrait, a pendant to the similar composition found in the collection of the Visual Art Museum in Galați, reveals Elena Galatheea Stoicescu, the second wife of the painter Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna. She was born in Ploiești in 1921, into a family of intellectuals. She also studied decorative art in high school, but generally managed from the position of an autodidact. After finishing high school, she moved to a relative in Bucharest, where she met the painter. However, their marriage would take place much later, on September 27, 1967. We distinguish her portrait in both period photographs and in the portraits made by her husband. Family friends often described her as the "soul of the house"; a house that was usually open to friends - whether they were artists or collectors. "Nuți", as her close ones called her, was a perfect host, greatly appreciated by those who crossed her threshold. However, her occupations also extended to her husband's work, being concerned to acquire as many of his works as possible, to replenish the collection. As soon as Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna's works appeared on consignment, Elena Galatheea Stoicescu was informed, so she was the first to have the opportunity to acquire and bring the artist's works home. "Nuți" was also an avid collector of period objects (vessels, furniture). Towards her husband, she always showed her admiration and overwhelmed him with encouragement, thus creating the ideal environment for him to express himself artistically.

References

"Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna: Fragments of Life", Zoe Apostolache-Stoicescu, Maximilian Zielinscki, Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna Foundation, Bucharest, 2014.

Dimensions

width 44.5 cm, height 58.5 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed lower right, in brown, "Schweitzer-Cumpăna"

Dating

cca. 1951

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