90. Basket with Lilac [1860-1865]

In the mid-nineteenth century, Theodor Aman's painting opens the way to the modernity of Romanian arts. By establishing modern artistic education and working with the first generations of artists crafted to resemble the typology of Western schools, Aman is undoubtedly the landmark to which we have to relate in terms of the Romanian artistic creation until Nicolae Grigorescu's maturity. Having studied in Paris himself, Aman was to take a certain approach to painting, being aware of both the artistic level in Romania and the steps necessary for its evolution. The choice of a classical language (academic we would call it today) came precisely from the necessity of introducing a stable and coherent current for the beginnings of modern Romanian painting, so the main themes in Aman’s work are coordinated to the great themes of his times: historical themes, portraits and genre scenes. Still life (and the adjacent flower composition) captured Aman’s attention somewhere around 1860, after the completion of his studies, and especially after consuming the moment of historical compositions. One of the first flower bouquets painted by the artist is inventoried around 1862, and this theme later became more and more common. The construction of the house and its famous garden encouraged such compositions, of which we know panel studies with bouquets of flowers from his own yard.

References

BOGDAN, Radu, Theodor Aman, Ed. De Stat pentru Literatură şi Artă, 1955
CISEK, Oscar Walter, Aman, Ed. Ramuri, Craiova, 1931
FLOREA, Vasile, Theodor Aman, Ed. Meridiane, 1972

Dimensions

width 9.5 cm, height 13.5 cm, custom 9,5x13,5

Description

oil on wood, signed lower right, in brown, "Aman"

Lot.notes

Pe verso, autentificare olografă Amelia Pavel.

Dating

1860-1865

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