Dictionarul artistilor din spatiul romanesc 1700-1920. Pictori, sculptori, gravori, zugravi, iconari, scenografi, decoratori, istorici de artă.

Abstract

Dictionary of Artists from the Romanian Space 1700–1920. Painters, Sculptors, Engravers, Wall Painters, Icon Painters, Set Designers, Decorators, Art Historians is a monumental two-volume work of nearly 1,500 pages, bringing together artists who were active in the Romanian cultural space over more than two centuries (including not only Romanian artists, but also foreign creators who contributed to the local artistic environment). The research, conducted over approximately 20 years, compiles an extensive documentary corpus and offers a complex overview of the development of the arts during this period.

The dictionary stands out through the breadth and diversity of its sources: archival documents, press materials, correspondence, announcements, and records from the collections of the Romanian Academy, as well as materials from museums, public and private collections, and exhibition catalogues. The information has been carefully cross-checked and verified, often correcting established data regarding birth years, exhibitions, and artistic events.

A significant emphasis is placed on reconstructing networks of training and influence, linking artists to their teachers and mentors, as well as on restoring visual identity through signatures, portraits, photographs, self-portraits, and depictions made by contemporaries.

Through its comprehensive nature, the work goes beyond a simple inventory, offering a synthesis of the entire artistic ecosystem of the Romanian space between 1700 and 1920, including painters, sculptors, engravers, wall painters, icon painters, decorators, and all other creators who contributed to the visual heritage of the period.