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ROMANIAN ATHENAEUM
The history of a building that represents the "Heart of Romanian culture"
THE MONUMENTAL FRESCO

In the sphere of the same interest for decoration comes the constant concern formulated by C. Esarcu and Al. Odobescu since 1888, to create a monumental fresco on the circular wall of the hall, a fresco that must evoke the most important moments of our national history, but at the same time create a faithful image of the specificity of the Romanian soul.

Proposing in 1901, a project in the spirit of what was shown above, the painter Ștefan Popescu wanted to create this 300 square meter work on canvas, considering that this way the hall would not have to be closed for a while. But the lack of sufficient funds makes the project drag on for many years.

Finally, Prof. Costin Petrescu's project for the creation of a fresco representing important moments in Romanian history in 25 episodes is accepted. The funds came from public subscription.

The work in length of 75 square meters and width of 3 m started in 1933 in the "al Fresco" technique will be inaugurated on May 26, 1938.

We consider that a brief description of the scenes is interesting because their ideational value is clearly superior to the artistic value, a fact that does not surprise us considering the programmatic character of the work and the need to submit the composition, drawing and color of the space offered, in an ensemble with certain plastic and decorative coordinates. But let's follow the sequence of episodes:

Among the 25 scenes, the last one has a very special history, especially since today it no longer exists in its original form. At the time of the inauguration of the fresco, the painter Costin Petrescu described the scene as follows: "The national epic ends with a final painting, which symbolically depicts the duties of our generation today. Against a background of a modern city with the attributes of public work and armed power, Carol II, the King of Culture, accompanied by his august son Grand Voivode Mihai, descends the steps of an edifice in the midst of the people called this time to strengthen the Great Heritage through strong cultural training". 

Overall, the fresco is done in a somewhat free manner, one can speak of a flat realistic style. The chromatic dominant is cold, abounding in grays. Hence the general slightly blurred effect, without special plastic accents.

These features of the fresco might mean at first glance that the work lacks artistic interest. However, in the hall as a whole these data become in a way qualities, the work occupying its place or discreetly, as a kind of pendant of the warm tones of red and gold in the luxuriant decorative wealth of the dome.

Serving the beautiful idea that national history should be presented as an open book, in which every viewer can find something of the greatness of the past and thus meditate on the spiritual and moral values of our people, the fresco of the Athenaeum is significant for the emblematic character of the monument.

Scena 1
Scena 2
Scena 3
Scena 4
Scena 5
Scena 6
Scena 7
Scena 8
Scena 9
Scena 10
Scena 11
Scena 12
Scena 13
Scena 14
Scena 15
Scena 16
Scena 17
Scena 18
Scena 19
Scena 20
Scena 21
Scena 22
Scena 23
Scena 24
Scena 25

FILARMONICA "GEORGE ENESCU" with headquarters in Bucharest, sector 1, str. Benjamin Franklin, no. 1-3, is a personal data operator according to Regulation 679/2016EU. The purpose pursued by the Data Operator regarding the processing of personal data is to ensure the purchase of tickets and/or subscriptions, by interested persons, for the concerts organized by the "GEORGE ENESCU" FILARMONICA. The data processed by the Operator are the following: name, surname – for nominal issuance of subscriptions; telephone number – to inform the viewer about any changes that may occur in the concert schedule; e-mail address - for sending tickets and/or subscriptions in digital format and for newsletter information. The collected data will be kept for a period proportional to the purposes for which they were collected. This information can be transferred to the Operator's representatives in order to ensure the proper functioning of the site. In the case of purchasing tickets online, please also consult the GDPR policy of the payment processor with whom we have a contract (https://netopia-payments.com/nota-de-informare-gdpr-platitori/). According to the GDPR you have the following rights: deletion, rectification, access, portability, restriction of personal data. This consent may be withdrawn at any time by written notice. Those who wish can make a complaint to the ANSPDCP if they believe that their rights have been violated. 

The data protection officer can be contacted at:adrian.magda@gdprservicii.ro        

Filarmonica "George Enescu"

București, Str. Benjamin Franklin nr.1-3, sector 1

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