Artwork
Cina cea de taină

Cina cea de taină is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Ioan Pop de la Făgăraș. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the Alba Iulia Orthodox Archdiocese.
About this work
Overview
Cina cea de taină, painted by Ioan Pop de la Făgăraș in 1839, is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts a thirteen‑person gathering around a long table, rendered in a stylized manner characteristic of early nineteenth‑century Romanian folk art.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the composition sits a figure distinguished by a golden halo, suggesting a sacred or revered role, while the surrounding participants are dressed in modest robes of red, white and gold. The arrangement evokes a communal meal, likely referencing a religious or ritual banquet.
Technique & Style
Pop de la Făgăraș employs a palette of bright, flat colors outlined with strong black lines, giving the scene a graphic clarity. The figures possess a slightly rigid, sculptural quality, reminiscent of carved wooden icons, and the background features arched windows and a tiled floor rendered in simplified perspective.
History & Provenance
Created in 1839, the painting entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as an example of regional visual culture from the period.
Context
The work reflects the visual language of Romanian folk painting, where religious symbolism and everyday communal life often intersect. The use of a halo and the formal arrangement of participants align with iconographic conventions of the era, while the domestic setting grounds the scene in local tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ioan Pop de la Făgăraș painted religious scenes in the mid-1800s, like *Încoronarea Fecioarei* (1846) and *Duminica Floriilor*.














