Stefan Arteni

The East-Central
European
Cultural Model
II

SolInvictus Press 2009

Stefan Arteni, Orpheus Mural and details

2
 Stefan Arteni

The East-Central European

Cultural Model
(a revised and illustrated version
of the essay published in
www.asymetria.org , 2009)
II

3
 Zographer Pârvu Mutu (Pârvu the Mute, nickname of Pârvu Pârvescu,
1657-1735), self-portrait from the Dormition (Assumption) church, Bordeşti

Pârvu Mutu’s self-portrait and signature, Three Hierarchs church, Filipeştii de

Pădure, painted in 1692

4
Stefan Arteni
Excursus I. Votive Portraits in Romanian Churches.

Fresco and detail, St Nicholas princely court church, Curtea de Argeş,

14th century

5
St Nicholas princely court church, Curtea de Argeş, 14th century

Cozia monastery, Holy Trinity church, 14th century (?)

6
Fresco and detail, Cozia monastery, Holy Trinity church, 14th century (?)

7
Fresco and detail, Voroneţ monastery, St George church, 15th century, portrait of
Stephen the Great

8
Detail of the fresco above, Voroneţ monastery, St George church, 15th century,
portrait of Stephen the Great

9
Thessalian zographer Gheorghios from Tricala (?), fresco and detail, Pătrăuţi
monastery, Holy Cross church, portraits of Stephen the Great and his family,
15th century

10
Thessalian zographer Gheorghios from Tricala (?), detail of the fresco above,
Pătrăuţi monastery, Holy Cross church, portraits of Stephen the Great and his
family, 15th century

11
Fresco and detail, Hieromonk (Ieromonachos) Gavriil zographer, St Nicholas
church, Bălineşti, votive portrait of Ioan Tăutu, 15th century

12
Details of the fresco above, Hieromonk (Ieromonachos) Gavriil zographer,
St Nicholas church, Bălineşti, votive portrait of Ioan Tăutu, 15th century

13
Dragoş Coman zographer, Arbore monastery, Beheading of St John the Baptist
church, tomb of Luca Arbore and votive group portrait of Luca Arbore, his wife
Iuliana and his sons Teodor and Nichita, 1541

14
 Detail of the fresco above, Dragoş Coman zographer, Arbore monastery,
Beheading of St John the Baptist church, 1541

Dragoş Coman zographer, Arbore monastery, Beheading of St John the Baptist

church, naos, votive group portrait of Luca Arbore and his family, 1541

15
Fresco and detail, St Elijah church, Suceava, 16th century, Stephen the Great
and Elijah

16
Fresco and detail, Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century,
portrait of Petru Rare

17
 Fresco and detail, Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century, votive portrait

18
Detail of the fresco above, Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century, votive portrait

19
 Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century,
tomb of Toader Bubuiog

20
Detail of the fresco above, Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century,
tomb of Toader Bubuiog

21
Details of the fresco above, Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century,
tomb of Toader Bubuiog

22
 Toma from Suceava zographer and three assistants,
Humor monastery, Dormition (Assumption) church, 16th century, portrait of
Toader Bubuiog

23
Moldoviţa monastery, Annunciation church, 16th century, portraits of Petru Rareş,
Lady Elena and two children

24
Detail of the fresco above, Moldoviţa monastery, Annunciation church,
16th century, portraits of Petru Rareş, Lady Elena and two children

25
Probota monastery, St Nicholas church, 16th century, votive portraits

26
Details of the fresco above, Probota monastery, St Nicholas church, 16th century,
votive portraits

27
 Detached fresco, portrait of Radu cel Mare, 1500?

Dobromir zographer, detached fresco, portrait of Lady Roxanda (widow of Radu

de la Afumaţi), before 1526

28
Bistriţa monastery, “Bolniţa” church, 1513 (?), portrait of Barbu Craiovescu

29
Fresco and detail, Snagov monastery, 16th century, portraits of Neagoe Basarab,
Teodosie (son of Neagoe Basarab) and Mircea Ciobanul

30
Fresco and detail, Snagov monastery, 16th century, portraits of Mircea Ciobanul
and his family (?)

31
Fresco and detail, Serbian zographers David and his son Raduslav, Cozia
monastery, “Bolniţa” church, 16th century

32
 Dobrovăţ monastery, 16th century, portraits of Stephen the Great, Bogdan the
Blind and Petru Rareş

Bogdana monastery, St Nicholas church built in the 14th century, votive portraits
painted in the 15th or 16th centuries and overpainted in 1880 in tempera by
Epaminonda Bucevschi

33
Fresco remnants, Galata monastery, Ascension of the Lord church,
16th century

34
Teodoreni monastery built in 1597, the votive portraits of Toader Movila and his
son Ioan were painted in 1785 by the Greek zographer
Veniamin from the Troad (?)

35
Sofronie and Ion zographers, Suceviţa monastery, Resurrection church,
16th century, portraits of Ieremia Movilă and his family

36
Details of the fresco above, Sofronie and Ion zographers, Suceviţa monastery,
Resurrection church, 16th century, portraits of Ieremia Movilă and his family

37
Fresco and detail, Mihnea zographer and his team (Mihnea was also a diplomatic
agent for Michael the Brave), Căluiu monastery, Oboga, end 16th century,
repainted in 1834 by Barbu Coşoveanu zographer

38
Mihnea zographer and his team, Căluiu monastery, Oboga, end 16th century,
repainted in 1834 by Barbu Coşoveanu zographer

39
Mihnea zographer and his team, Căluiu monastery, Oboga, end 16th century,
repainted in 1834 by Barbu Coşoveanu zographer

40
Mihnea zographer and his team, Căluiu monastery, Oboga, end 16th century,
repainted in 1834 by Barbu Coşoveanu zographer

41
Arnota monastery, Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church,
17th century, fresco and detail, portrait of Matei Basarab

42
Details of the fresco above, Arnota monastery, Holy Archangels Michael and
Gabriel church, 17th century, portrait of Matei Basarab

43
Arnota monastery, Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, 17th century,
votive portraits and the tomb of Matei Basarab

44
Fresco and detail, Arnota monastery, Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel
church, 17th century, portraits of Lady Stanca and Preda vel spatharius

45
Strehaia monastery, Holy Trinity church, 17th century

Strehaia monastery, Holy Trinity church, 17th century

46
 Mihai, Dima and Gheorghe zographers from Ioannina (Greece),
Cetăţuia monastery, portrait of Gheorghe Duca and his family, 17th century

47
Fresco and detail, Brâncoveni monastery, 1700 (?), portraits of Matei Basarab
and Marica Brâncoveanu

48
Fresco and detail, Brâncoveni monastery, 1700 (?), portraits of Constantin
Brâncoveanu and his grandfather Preda Brâncoveanu

49
 Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century,
fresco and detail, portraits of Constantin Brâncoveanu and his family

50
 Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century,
details of the fresco above, portraits of Constantin Brâncoveanu and his family

51
 Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century,
portraits of members of the Cantacuzino family

Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century

52
Detail of the fresco above, Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century

53
Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century,
portraits of the master craftsmen

54
Hurezi (Horezu) monastery, 17th century, portrait of Basarab Laiotă the Elder

55
Plăviceni (Alunişul) monastery, Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church,
Plopii Slăviteşti, 17th century, votive portraits

56
Plăviceni (Alunişul) monastery, Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church,
Plopii Slăviteşti, 17th century, votive portraits

57
Plătăreşti monastery, St Mercurius church, votive portraits, 17th century

58
Govora monastery, early 18th century, portrait of Constantin Brâncoveanu

59
Govora monastery, early 18th century (?)

60
Govora monastery, early 18th century (?)

61
Pârvu Mutu zographer, Three Hierarchs church, Filipeştii de Pădure, 1692,
portraits of members of the Cantacuzino family

62
Pârvu Mutu zographer, Three Hierarchs church, Filipeştii de Pădure, 1692,
portraits of members of the Cantacuzino family

63
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Sinaia monastery, members of the Cantacuzino
family, 17th century

64
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Sinaia monastery, members of the Cantacuzino
family, 17th century

65
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Sinaia monastery, members of the Cantacuzino
family, 17th century

66
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Sinaia monastery, members of the Cantacuzino
family, 17th century

67
Pârvu Mutu and Marin zographers, Mamu monastery, St Nicholas church,
17th century

68
Detail of the fresco above, Pârvu Mutu and Marin zographers, Mamu monastery,
St Nicholas church, 17th century

69
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, Berca,
Buzău county, 17th century, self-portrait of Pârvu Mutu with his wife (?)

70
Detail of the fresco above, Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael
and Gabriel church, Berca, Buzău county, 17th century, self-portrait of
Pârvu Mutu with his wife (?)

71
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, Berca,
Buzău county, 17th century

Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, Berca,
Buzău county, 17th century

72
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, Berca,
Buzău county, 17th century

Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, Berca,
Buzău county, 17th century

73
Pârvu Mutu zographer (?), Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel church, Berca,
Buzău county, 17th century

74
Ioan Matei zographer, fresco and detail, St George church, Hlincea monastery,
17th century, portraits of Vasile Lupu, Stefăniţă Lupu and Lady Ecaterina

75
Sima, Ranite, Stefan and Gheorghe zographers, Fedeleşoiu hermitage,
end 17th century - early 18th century

76
Bistriţa monastery, “Bolniţa” church, 1513 (?), votive portraits painted in 1710 by
Hieromonk (Ieromonachos) Iosif from Hurezi in the portico which was added to
the church in the early 18th century

77
 Fresco and detail, Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century, portraits of
Nicolae Mavrocordat, Lady Smaragda, Princess Maria and the children (right to
left) Constantin, Iancu, Sultăniţa, Alexandru and Smărăndiţa

78
Detail of the fresco above, Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century

Detail of the fresco above, Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century

79
Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century

Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century

80
 Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century

Detail of the fresco above, Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century

81
 Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century, portraits of serdar Grigore
Greceanu, his wife Ilinca and children

Stavropoleos church, Bucharest, 18th century, portraits of captain Atanasie,

his wife Elena and child

82
Mărcuţa church, Bucharest, 18th century, votive portraits

83
Annunciation church, Râmnicu Valcea, 18th century, votive portraits

84
Annunciation church, Râmnicu Valcea, 18th century, votive portraits

85
Annunciation church, Râmnicu Valcea, 18th century, votive portrait

86
Andrei and his son Andrei with Iovan and Chiriac zographers,
Săraca monastery, Transfiguration church, 1730

87
St Nicholas Belivaca church, Craiova, 18th century

St Nicholas Belivaca church, Craiova, 18th century

88
St Nicholas Belivaca church, Craiova, 18th century

Polovragi monastery, “Bolniţa” church, 18th century

89
Fresco and detail, Mary's Presentation in the Temple church (the town church or
‘biserica din târg’), Horezu, 1800-1804

90
Mary's Presentation in the Temple church (the town church or ‘biserica din târg’),
Horezu, 1800-1804

Mary's Presentation in the Temple church (the town church or ‘biserica din târg’),
Horezu, 1800-1804

91
Manole and Dinu zographers with apprentices Dumitru and Dumitraşcu,
Annunciation church, Copăceni, 1804, votive portraits

92
All Saints church (Călugăreasa), Călugăreasa, 1822, votive portraits and detail

93
Măineşti monastery, 1810-1812, votive portraits and detail

94
Măineşti monastery, 1810-1812, votive portraits

95
 Râşca monastery, St Nicholas church, built in the 16th century, votive portraits
painted in 1823 -1827

Fresco and detail, Râşca monastery, St Nicholas church, built in the 16th century,
votive portraits painted in 1823 -1827

96
Frumoasa monastery, 18th century, rebuilt and painted in 1836-1841

97
Fresco and detail, All Saints church, Proieni, 19th century, votive portraits

98
Portrait of Nicolae Milcoveanu and detail, wood church, Urşi, Vâlcea county,
1757 (?), renovated and painted in 1843 by Gheorghe, Nicolae and Ioan
zographers

99
Wood church, Ciungetu, Vâlcea county, 1861, votive portraits

100