164. Église Saint Martin (Montreuil) [1934]

He arrived in Paris, with a travelling fellowship offered by the Minister of Public Training, Spiru Haret, in the year 1898, following the recommendation of master Nicolae Grigorescu, who had noted his aspirations even from the period when, together with his good friend, Ipolit Strâmbu, came to his workshop and helped him prepare the canvases for exhibitions. In Paris, just like his predecessors, the artist discovered the secrets of the museums, which he visited fervently. De la Goya deciphered the secret of black, which he would later capitalize in his works, becoming a genuine "inquirer of grave pictorial melodies", as he was described by Tonitza in his "Scrierile" ("Writings") on art. Located at a small distance from Paris, Montreuil represented a rich source of inspiration for the artist Petrașcu , who started coming here starting in 1900 towards the year 1909. He was drawn by the solemnly built houses, as well as by the towering constructions, one of his interests consisting of rendering architectural balance, as well as the gravity of shapes and asymmetries. (G.M.)

References

OPRESCU, George, „Gheorghe Petrașcu”, Ed. Meridiane, București, 1963. CONSTANTINESCU, Paula; SCHOBEL, Doina, Expoziția de pictură „G. Petrașcu 1872-1972”, Muzeul de Artă al Republicii Socialiste România, București, 1972. FLOREA, Vasile, „Gheorghe Petrașcu”, Ed. Meridiane, București, 1989.

Dimensions

width 46 cm, height 39 cm, custom 39 × 46 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed and dated bottom right, with red, "G. Petrașcu, (1)934"

Dating

1934

PROVENANCE

the Berea family Collection; Georg Dobrescu Collection

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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