Camil Ressu
Encyclopedia
Camil Ressu was a Romania
n painter and academic, one of the most significant art figures of Romania.
, Ressu originated from an Aromanian
family that migrated to Romania from Macedonia
at the start of the 19th century. His father, Constantin Ressu, who was a journalist and had studied law in Brussels
, was an artist in his spare time. In 1887, Ressu was enrolled at the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest
. He continued his studies at the School of Fine Arts
in Iaşi
, where he studies with painters Gheorghe Popovici and Gheorghe Panaiteanu Bardasare
. In 1902, he finished his studied in Iaşi, being awarded a silver medal, and left Romania for Paris
, seeking to further develop his art skills. In Paris, he studied at the Académie Julian
. Opera a lui: "Taran cu coasa"; "Cosasi odihnindu-se" 1925
In 1908, Ressu returned to Romania and became interested in social matters, contributing satirical drawings to several publications, including Furnica, Facla and Adevărul
. In the same year, he became a member of the Romanian Social Democratic Party
(or, rather, its surviving Bucharest circle, Socialist Union of Romania, formed around the paper România Muncitoare
). In 1910, his works (landscapes
and paintings with bucolic themes) were featured in the Artistic Youth exhibition. Ressu opened his first personal exhibition in 1914, in Bucharest. He died in Bucharest.
, Ştefan Dimitrescu
, Iosif Iser
, Marius Bunescu
and the sculptors Dimitrie Paciurea
, Cornel Medrea
, Ion Jalea
and Oscar Han
, he founded the Art of Romania association in Iaşi. During these years, he further developed his style as a landscape painter, and frequently visited the countryside in summer to paint portraits of peasants working in the fields and views of villages. He also painted still life
, portraits of various personalities, and nudes.
In 1921, he became the president of the Artists' Union of Romania. In 1925, after a prolonged stay in the village of Ilovăţ
, Mehedinţi County
, Ressu finished one of his best-known paintings, Ploughmen Resting, currently housed in the Iaşi Museum of Art.
Aside from his artistic pursuits, Camil Ressu was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest until 1941. From 1950, he was the honorary president of the Artists' Union and a professor at the Nicolae Grigorescu Art Institute. In 1955, Romania's Communist regime
awarded him the title of "People's Artist
", and he later became a member of the Romanian Academy
.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n painter and academic, one of the most significant art figures of Romania.
Early life and career
Born in GalaţiGalati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
, Ressu originated from an Aromanian
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
family that migrated to Romania from Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
at the start of the 19th century. His father, Constantin Ressu, who was a journalist and had studied law in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, was an artist in his spare time. In 1887, Ressu was enrolled at the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. He continued his studies at the School of Fine Arts
George Enescu University of Arts of Iaşi
The George Enescu University of Arts is a public university in Iaşi, Romania, founded in 1860. Its focus was remodelled in 1992. Due to the reunion of the Conservatory of music and dramatic art and the National Society of Fine Arts, the institution was regrouped to focus on plastic arts, theatre...
in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, where he studies with painters Gheorghe Popovici and Gheorghe Panaiteanu Bardasare
Gheorghe Panaiteanu Bardasare
Gheorghe Panaiteanu Bardasare was a Romanian painter.- External links :# http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_Panaiteanu-Bardasare#Biografie*...
. In 1902, he finished his studied in Iaşi, being awarded a silver medal, and left Romania for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, seeking to further develop his art skills. In Paris, he studied at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
. Opera a lui: "Taran cu coasa"; "Cosasi odihnindu-se" 1925
In 1908, Ressu returned to Romania and became interested in social matters, contributing satirical drawings to several publications, including Furnica, Facla and Adevărul
Adevarul
Adevărul is a Romanian daily newspaper, based in Bucharest. Founded in 1871 and reestablished in 1888, it was the main left-wing press venue to be published during the Romanian Kingdom's existence, adopting an independent pro-democratic position, advocating land reform and universal suffrage...
. In the same year, he became a member of the Romanian Social Democratic Party
Romanian Social Democratic Party (defunct)
The Romanian Social Democratic Party was a social-democratic political party in Romania. It published the magazine România Muncitoare, and later Socialismul, Lumea Nouă, and Libertatea.-Early party:...
(or, rather, its surviving Bucharest circle, Socialist Union of Romania, formed around the paper România Muncitoare
România Muncitoare
România Muncitoare was a socialist newspaper, published in Bucharest, Romania....
). In 1910, his works (landscapes
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
and paintings with bucolic themes) were featured in the Artistic Youth exhibition. Ressu opened his first personal exhibition in 1914, in Bucharest. He died in Bucharest.
Renown
In 1917, along with the painters Nicolae DărăscuNicolae Darascu
Nicolae Dărăscu was a Romanian painter. He was influenced by Impressionism and Neo-impressionism.-Biography:...
, Ştefan Dimitrescu
Stefan Dimitrescu
Ştefan Dimitrescu was a Romanian Post-impressionist painter and draftsman.-Biography:Born in Huşi into a modest family, he completed his primary and secondary studies in his hometown...
, Iosif Iser
Iosif Iser
Iosif Iser was a Romanian painter and graphic artist.Born to a Jewish family, he was initially inspired by Expressionism, creating drawings with thick, unmodulated, lines and steep angles...
, Marius Bunescu
Marius Bunescu
Marius Bunescu was a Romanian painter, organizer of the National Museum of Art, and director of the Anastase Simu Museum....
and the sculptors Dimitrie Paciurea
Dimitrie Paciurea
Dimitrie Paciurea – 14 July 1932) was a Romanian sculptor. His representational and symbolic style contrasts strongly to the more abstract style of his contemporary and co-national Constantin Brâncuşi....
, Cornel Medrea
Cornel Medrea
Cornel Medrea was a Romanian sculptor.He won numerous awards, including Honorary Diploma at the Barcelona International Exhibition, 1929; Great Prize at the Paris International Exhibition, 1937; International Prize at the New York Exhibition, 1939; National Prize for Sculpture, 1945; State Prize,...
, Ion Jalea
Ion Jalea
-External links:*...
and Oscar Han
Oscar Han
Oscar Han was a Romanian sculptor and writer. A student of Dimitrie Paciurea at the Academy of Arts in Bucharest, he was a member of the Group of Four together with painters Nicolae Tonitza, Francisc Şirato and Ştefan Dimitrescu...
, he founded the Art of Romania association in Iaşi. During these years, he further developed his style as a landscape painter, and frequently visited the countryside in summer to paint portraits of peasants working in the fields and views of villages. He also painted still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
, portraits of various personalities, and nudes.
In 1921, he became the president of the Artists' Union of Romania. In 1925, after a prolonged stay in the village of Ilovăţ
Ilovat
Ilovăţ is a commune located in Mehedinţi County, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Budăneşti, Cracu Lung, Dâlbociţa, Firizu, Ilovăţ and Racova....
, Mehedinţi County
Mehedinti County
Mehedinţi is a county of Romania. It is mostly located in the historical province of Oltenia, with one municipality and three communes located in the Banat...
, Ressu finished one of his best-known paintings, Ploughmen Resting, currently housed in the Iaşi Museum of Art.
Aside from his artistic pursuits, Camil Ressu was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest until 1941. From 1950, he was the honorary president of the Artists' Union and a professor at the Nicolae Grigorescu Art Institute. In 1955, Romania's Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
awarded him the title of "People's Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
", and he later became a member of the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
.