Romanian Architectural History Tour

A presentation by Ted Bosley and Denise Maior-BarronThe Gamble House 3 April 2018

Astra Museum, Sibiu

• Part I: Historical Background of Romanian Heritage (Denise Maior-Barron)

• Part II: Romanian Architectural Tour Overview (Ted Bosley)

Historical Background of Romanian Heritage: Folk Tradition in Official Art Discourses

Inside Ceauşescu’s private residence, Spring PalacePhoto: David Muntean/AFP/Getty Images, 2016

Romania, between Occident and Orient

Contemporary Romanian Historical Regions

Dacian-Roman Ancestry

Vlad the Impaler b. 1431 – d. 1476

Mircea the Elder b. 1355 – d. 1418

Stephen the Great b. 1433 – d. 1504

Iancu de Hunedoarab. 1406 – d. 1456

Michael the Braveb. 1558 – d. 1601

Key Romanian Historical Figures

Alexandru Ioan Cuzab. 1820 – d. 1873

Romanian Modern History: Early nationalist projects

• 1600-1601: The three historic principalities of Romania － Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia － are briefly united under one ruler, Michael the Brave. They had been under Habsburg and Ottoman domination.

• 1657: Transylvania falls under Ottoman rule, as Moldavia and Wallachia had already done.

• 1683: The Habsburgs recapture Transylvania from the Ottoman Empire.• 1711: The Habsburgs make Transylvania a province of their Kingdom of

Hungary.• 1715: Phanariot Greek governors begin to rule Moldavia and Wallachia on behalf

of the Ottoman Empire, and launch administrative reforms.• 1821: After a century of Russian military incursions, the Ottoman Empire cedes

Bessarabia － the eastern half of Moldavia － to Moscow and allows Russia to oversee the administration of Moldavia and Wallachia. Phanariot rule ends, and native Romanian rulers steadily gain influence.

• 1834: Moldavia and Wallachia adopt a unified basic constitution, the Regulamentul Organic, which provides for their eventual unification.

• 1856: Russian control over Moldavia and Wallachia ends with Moscow's defeat in the Crimean War.

Romanian Modern History: Independence• 1859: Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza is proclaimed prince of Moldavia and Wallachia.• 1862: The union of the two Danubian principalities is consolidated into a new state － Romania.

Prince Cuza launches an ambitious policy of reform.• 1866: Landed interests and disgruntled liberal politicians force the increasingly authoritarian

Prince Cuza's abdication. Parliament invites the German prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringento succeed him.

• 1877-1878: Romania wins full independence from the Ottoman Empire by siding with Russia in the Russo-Turkish War. It also acquires a coastline on the Danube delta.

• 1881: Romania becomes a kingdom. Romanians in the Hungarian province of Transylvania form a National Party to campaign for their rights, but meet with repression by the Hungarian authorities.

• 1904: The Romanian oil industry takes off with the opening of the first refinery.• 1907: Mass revolt by poor peasants bloodily crushed.• 1914: King Carol's death ends Romania's alliance with the Central Powers － Germany and

Austria. His nephew Ferdinand takes Romania into WWI on the Allied side in 1916.• 1918: As part of the peace settlement at the end of the war, Romania acquires several territories

with resident Romanian populations.• 1930s: Rise of fascist "Iron Guard" mass movement.• 1938: King Carol II establishes dictatorship.• 1940: Romania cedes territory to Hungary and USSR after signing of German-Soviet pact. General

Ion Antonescu forces King Carol to abdicate in favour of son Michael, but assumes power himself.• 1941: Romania fights on German side against Soviet Union.• 1944: Antonescu ousted. Romania switches sides as Soviet forces close in.

Romanian Modern History: Communism and after

• 1945: Soviet-backed government installed.• 1947: Romania regains Transylvania under peace treaty but loses territory to Soviet Union.

King Michael abdicates. Romanian People's Republic proclaimed.• 1948-49: Soviet-style constitution, purges of dissidents in the Communist Party.• 1952: Party leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej becomes prime minister.• 1965: Nicolae Ceauşescu becomes Communist Party leader after death of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-

Dej. He pursues foreign policy that often runs counter to Moscow's lead, while increasing repressive rule and personality cult at home.

• 1968: Ceauşescu denounces Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.• 1975: United States grants Romania most-favoured-nation status.• 1977: Bucharest earthquake kills around 1,500 people.• 1985-86: Austerity programme aimed at reducing foreign debt leads to food shortages and

widespread power cuts.• 1987: Army occupies power plants and crushes workers' demonstrations in Braşov.• 1989: Bloody national uprising, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena try to flee but are caught and

executed. National Salvation Front established, headed by former Ceauşescu ally Ion Iliescu.• 2004: Romania admitted to NATO.• 2007: Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union, raising the EU membership to 27.

Romanian Modern Constitutional Monarchy (1881-1947)Reign 1881-1914King Carol I (b.1839 – d.1914) and Queen Consort Elisabeth (b. 1843 – d.1916)

Reign 1914-1927King Ferdinand (b.1865 – d.1927) andQueen (Consort) Marie (b. 1875 – d. 1938)

Reign 1930-1940King Carol II (b. 1893 – d.1953)and Queen (Consort and Mother) Helen (b. 1896 – d.1982)

Reign 1927-1930 and 1940-1947King Michael I (b. 1921 – d.2017)‘I have been terribly tired of wearing

long trousers and a stiff hat and going to places I don’t want to go at all.’ (Nine-year old King Michael at his father’s temporary return on the throne)

Queen Marie and Romanian Royal Legacy in Architecture

Palatul Cotroceni, early 1900sPhoto Alexander Antoniu

Balchik Castle planned by Queen Marie starting 1925 (completed in 1937)

Bran Castle and Queen Marie, who refurbished and transformed it from a medieval fortress into royal residence (1920-1932, Arch. Karel Liman)

The Paris of the Orient: Interwar Bucharest

I came to Bucharest two years ago with a legion of conquering heroes. I leave with a troupe of gigolos and racketeers!

(German Field Marshal August von Mackensenreflecting on his time during the WWI occupation)

Socialist Realist Architecture Antithetical to the Romanian Royal Legacy

Casa Scânteii featuring also a monument of Lenin on its front lawn, was built in 1953 after the model of LomonosovUniversity in Moscow, in the Socialist Realism style. It was designed to face triumphantly (through sheer megaliticalsize) the Romanian Arch of Triumph, erected originally in 1878 and bearing royalist insignia (which were chiseled out and replaced with communist symbols once the new regime was installed in 1946). As a reverse of fate, with the turn of 1989 events, Lenin’s statue was removed in January 1990 (however not the communist insignia featured on the Casa Scânteii façade, see below).

Ceauşescu’s Nationalist Architecture Breaking Away from Previous Patterns

The initial plans which would have fitted previous design of Romanian official architecture, were rejected in favour of a neoclassic based style boasting interpretations of Romanian decorative elements, albeit using as inspiration Versailles, greatly admired by Ceauşescu.

Yesterday: destruction of built heritage

for fulfilling political agendas

Uranus - Izvor -Mihai Voda neighbourhood, one of the old Bucharest’s areas mounting to 20% of the old town which were erased at the beginning of the 1980s for accommodating the new plans of Casa Poporului and its residential environs.

Photos Ion Mureşan 1979

Today: built heritage under threat of destruction due to litigation over ownership, legislative

corruption, neglect and lack of funds

Băile Herculane, originally a Roman spa (Therme Herculi) became a popular resortduring the Austrian rule of Transylvania (1718-1918) when a project of modernisationbegan in 1736. Further development during the 19th and the 20th century contributedan eclectic architectural legacy (including communist hotels). The predominant styleof the Town Centre is found in Austrian Baroque (see below).Pictured: 1869 built Hotel Traian or Carol I as also known, in 1913 and today, as wellas the derelict Austrian Imperial Spa.

Rimetea (Toroczkó): 1999 Europa Nostra award of the European Commission for Conservation of Material Cultural Heritage

Creating and Appropriating Romanian-ness through Folk Traditions

Queen Marie appropriated the Romanian traditional dress , displaying it with panache in her public appearances and official portraits throughout her life .Pictured here at 17 years old when she arrived in Romania, and later in the 1930s with her grandson, future King Michael I.

Eugene Delacroix’s 1830 Revolutionary France and the Revolutionary Romania by C.D. Rosenthal (1849)

The Communist Festival Cântarea României (1979, Hangu Choir with conductor Teoctist Călinescu/Fundaţia Culturală Gavriil Călinescu) 1973 Communist Diploma of Economic

Achievement awarded to a agricultural county

Romanian Tradition in Art by Others: Henri Matisse

The Romanian Blouse by Henri Matisse

Musée National d'Art ModerneGeorges Pompidou Center, Paris1934

Romanian Tradition in Art by Romanians: Constantin Brâncuşi

Above: The Open Air Museum at Târgu Jiu, featuring monuments built in situ by the artist at the request of a group of women from his native region, wishing to commemorate all those fallen during the WWI (work completed between 1937 and 1938 and donated by the artist. The complex was officially recognised in 1964 when the artist’s memory was rehabilitated in his homeland).

They are all imbeciles those that say about my work that it is abstract; what they call abstract is the purest realism, because reality is not represented by exterior form, but by the idea behind it, by the essence of things.’(Constantin Brâncuşi)

"Brâncuşi’s art works are works of art which could be made by any [Romanian] uneducated peasant"."Brâncuşi’s art works do not help with anything in building up socialism in Romania. We refuse!". (The answer of the Romanian authorities when offered the donation of Brâncuşi’s works of art in 1951 by the artist, who donated these instead to the French State – found now at Centre Pompidou, Paris)

People: Which Romania?Romanian cultural heritage Ethnic Plurality

Places: Which Romania?Romanian cultural heritageDissonant art & architectural legacy

• Part II: Romanian Architectural Tour Overview

Bucharest: “Little Paris of the Balkans”

Cantacuzino Palace: George Enescu Museum(Ion D. Berindey, 1901-03)

Stavropoleos Monastery (1724)

Hanul Lui Manuc, Bucharest (Manuc Bey, 1806)

(left) 2017 restaurant; (top) 1841 inn

Neo-Romanian Architecture

Casa Doina (Ion Mincu 1889)

Vila cu Clopoţei (Cristofi Cerchez 1906)

Neo-Romanian Style, circa 1910

Photos: Ted Bosley (l.) and Valentin Mandache (r.)

Romanian Peasant Museum (Nicolae Ghica-Budeşti, 1912-1941)

Peleş Castle, SinaiaRoyal Summer Residence

(commissioned by King Carol I, designed by Karel Liman, 1873-1883)

Pelişor Castle (“Little Peleş”)

(Karel Liman, 1899-1903)

Pelişor, Queen Marie’s Bed Chamberand Sitting Room (Queen Marie, with Bernhard Ludwig, 1903-09)

Sibiu (Hermannstadt)Center of Saxon Transylvania and 2007 European Capital of Culture

ASTRA Open Air Museum (Sibiu): farm cottage; log church on stone foundation.

ASTRA Open Air Museum (Sibiu): shepherd huts

ASTRA Open Air Museum: mill cottage with detail of wood joinery.

Medieval citadel of Sighişoara, Saxon center of craft. UNESCO World Heritage site: 12th c. fortifications; 14th c. clock tower; birthplace of Vlad Țepeş (1428).

Façade and interior window detail, Prefectural Palace (Komor and Jakab, 1908) Târgu Mureş

Stairwell and wall details, Prefectural Palace Târgu Mureş

Palace of Culture (Komor and Jakab, 1911-1913) Târgu Mureş

Târgu Mureş

Office of Gyorgy Bernady, mayor of Târgu Mureş, 1900-1912 and 1926-29. Interior details at Palace of Culture

Main lobby and ceiling detail, Palace of Culture, Târgu Mureş

Palace of Culture, lobby murals depicting Sekelyfolk tales, Hungarian myths of founding origins (Korosfori-Kriesch Aladar, 1912-13)

Palace of Culture, lobby murals depicting Sekely folk tales, Hungarian founding myths (Korosfori-Kriesch Aladar, 1912-1913)

Octavian Goga historic house museum, Ciucea

Mausoleum of Love (1938-1958) dedicated to Octavian Goga(d. 1938) by his wife Veturia, who placed the mosaic tiles according to a design by Nora Steriade

Medieval Transylvanian wooden church brought on site by Veturia Goga

Calvinist reform church at Korosfo, 1764

Interior, with decorated coffered ceiling

Oradea

National romantic style (c. 1910), after Budapest architect Odon Lechner

In Oradea, conservation and dereliction stand in proximate contrast

Façade of Black Vulture complex, Oradea(Komor and Jakab 1907-08)

Interior detail of Black Vulture arcade

Optional extension tour to MaramureşNorthern region of 17th – 19th cent. wooden churches

(l.) Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, Bârsana.

(r.) Budeşti Josani, Mara Valley.

Thank you!

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Romania!

Image and content creditsAll uncredited photos: Ted Bosleyhttp://www.muzeulastra.ro/http://mapofeurope.com/europe-map/http://romaniatourism.com/romania-maps/europe-map.htmlhttp://romaniatourism.com/romania-maps/historical-regions-map.htmlAdrien-Hubert Brué - http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~33913~1170066â, Public DomainConrad Cichorius - Conrad Cichorius: "Die Reliefs der Traianssäule", Erster Tafelband: "Die Reliefs des Ersten Dakischen Krieges", Tafeln 1-57, Verlag von Georg Reimer, Berlin 1896, Public Domainhttp://enciclopediaromaniei.ro/wiki/Mircea_cel_B%C4%83tr%C3%A2nhttps://www.britannica.com/media/full/631524/202476https://doxologia.ro/puncte-de-vedere/de-ziua-sfantului-voievod-stefan-cel-mareUnknown – Iancu de Hunedoara, Public DomainMişu Popp mural at Alba Iulia, Public Domainhttps://i0.wp.com/dantomozei.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Alexandru-Ioan-Cuza-imagine-de-Carol-Popp-de-Szathmari.jpghttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17776876Unknown circa 1870 – Carol I King of Romania, Public DomainUnknown circa 1870 – Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Public DomainGeorge Grantham Bain collection/Library of Congress, Public DomainGeorge Grantham Bain collection/Library of Congress, Public DomainOfficial Portrait, Public DomainGeorge Grantham Bain collection/Library of Congress, Public DomainJozef Trylinki (Kawalerowie Orderu Zwyciestwa, Warschau) 1921, Public DomainAlexandru Antoniu, Album general al României: compus din 300 tablouri reprezentînd monumentele istorice şi contimporane, posiţiuni pitoresci, Domeniul Coroanei şi costume naţionalecu descrierea istorică şi pitorească, Dresden, C. G. Röder, 1901-1904http://www.istorie-pe-scurt.ro/regina-maria-si-castelul-bran/http://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Files/Bucharest/Bucharest_old/Old_Bucharest.htmhttps://tourofcommunism.com/2014/11/26/the-only-building-in-bucharest-that-still-has-the-hammer-sickle-the-house-of-the-free-press/https://www.antena3.ro/en/life-show/bucharest-the-capital-with-the-best-prices-for-tourists-240448.htmlhttp://jurnalul.ro/special-jurnalul/marturii-arhitectul-lui-ceausescu-116612.htmlwww.catalincornea.rohttp://www.caon.ro/se-vinde-hotelul-carol-i-din-baile-herculane/1760617http://reptilianul.ro/2017/07/02/baile-imperiale-austriece/Revolutionary France (1830), Eugene Delacroix, the Louvre Museum, ParisRevolutionary Romania (1849), C.D. Rosenthal, National Museum of Art of Romania, BucharestA 17 years old Queen Marie of Romania, Public DomainQueen Marie with her grandson, future King Michael, Public Domainhttp://www.comunismulinromania.ro/index.php/category/amintiri-din-comunism/page/5/© Philippe Migeat - Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI /Dist. RMN-GP © Succession H. Matissehttp://mediation.centrepompidou.fr/education/ressources/ENS-brancusi/ENS-brancusi.htmhttp://www.descopera.ro/14-decenii-de-brancusi/15058905-cum-au-respins-comunistii-donatia-lui-brancusi-dupa-analiza-unei-tesatoare-si-a-unui-tipograf-operele-lui-nu-ajuta-cu-nimic-refuzam-document-video-fotohttps://romaniadacia.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/romanians-in-traditional-clothing-3/romanian-woman-roumaines-romenia-rumeni-eastern-europeans/http://romaniatourism.com/traditional-villages.htmlhttp://lexikon.adatbank.ro/tematikus/szocikk.php?id=64http://folkcostume.blogspot.com/2013/05/overview-of-peoples-of-transylvania.htmlhttps://www.romania-insider.com/many-roma-people-romania/https://unknownbucharest.com/old-photos-of-bucharest/the-royal-palace-bucharest-2/http://travelwebsite.ro/casa-poporului-din-bucuresti/http://romaniatourism.com/maramures.htmlhttps://arhicadi.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/bufetul-de-la-sosea-casa-doina/http://muzeulbucurestiului.ro/muzeul-nicolae-minovici.html