94. Nifon, the Primate Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia [1872]

Due to the political and social context until the 19th century, the plastic arts had an anachronistic position both in Moldova and in Wallachia. We can talk about art only in a religious context, and the portraits, when they exist, are only of some benefactors or donors and do not seek to render their likeness, but to express religiosity and, most of the time, the social position of the respective characters. Tattarescu's work can be considered one of the key landmarks of academicism and the rigors of classical art in Wallachia. Gheorghe Tattarescu favors the model and emphasizes the authority of the character through color and the play of light that accentuates the sober face. The statuesque presence is a demonstration of piety, and the blessing gesture symbolizes the abbreviation of the name of Jesus Christ in Greek. The Metropolitan holds in his hand a scepter that has at the top two snake heads that look at each other with a cross between them. The snakes symbolize pastoral wisdom and the cross the fact that the archbishop has the authority to shepherd the flock in the name of Christ. Initiated into painting by his uncle, Nicolae Teodorescu (1786/1797-1880), founder of the School of Painters in Buzău, young Tattarescu was to embark on a prolific artistic journey. After graduating from the School of Painters (1831-1837) he will attend the courses of the Academy of San Luca (1845-1851), also taking private lessons with the painter Natale Carta. The first church painted by Tattarescu in Bucharest was precisely the Oțetari Church where Metropolitan Nifon was baptized. Today we find in the painted narthex the face of the Metropolitan. Nifon Rusailă played a major role in the Union of the Romanian Principalities in 1859, held the position of Metropolitan of Hungro-Wallachia (1850-1865) and then Metropolitan-Primate of Romania (1865-1875). Metropolitan Nifon served as the president of the Divan Ad-hoc in Bucharest on September 29, 1857 and of the Elective Assembly which elected the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza on January 24, 1859. In 1864 the Senate of Romania was also established, Metropolitan Nifon becoming the first president of the Senate. During his pastorate, the well-known church reforms of Alexandru Ioan Cuza took place (secularization of monastic wealth, Synodal Law, Law for the appointment of metropolitans and diocesan bishops). In 1865 he was appointed primate of Romania.

Dimensions

width 81 cm, height 101.5 cm

Description

oil on canvas, Signed and dated on the left side, with ochre, "Tattarescu, 1872"; noted upper left, with ochre, ”Nifon Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia elected on September 14, 1850, Primate of Romania”

Research information

The work was featured in the exhibition "Masterpieces of Romanian Art, between Academism and Modernism", Bucharest, Grimberg Gallery, September 25 - October 25, 2013, and is reproduced in the exhibition catalog on pp. 14-15. Variants of the work are reproduced in the catalog "Gheorghe M. Tattarescu 1818-1894", Alcor Edimpex Publishing House, Bucharest, 1994, cat. 53, 54, 55.

Dating

1872

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.