Artwork
Monah bătrân
Monah bătrân is an unspecified painting by Gheorghe Tattarescu. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1850 by Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu, “Monah bătrân” is a portrait of an elderly monk. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑nineteenth‑century religious portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a senior monk with a long white beard and gray hair, his face illuminated from above while his beard recedes into shadow. The calm, slightly furrowed expression suggests contemplation, reflecting the spiritual introspection traditionally associated with monastic life.
Technique & Style
Tattarescu employs soft, delicate brushwork to render the texture of the monk’s skin and the fine lines of age. A chiaroscuro effect heightens the contrast between the lit facial features and the darkened background, which fades into a muted greenish hue around the shoulders.
History & Provenance
The painting has remained in Romanian public collections since the 19th century, ultimately entering the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. Its provenance traces a straightforward path from the artist’s studio to the national institution that now preserves it.
Artist & collection
Artist
