Artwork
Răpirea la cer a Sfântului Ilie
Răpirea la cer a Sfântului Ilie is a drawing by Ilie Poienaru. It is held in the collection of the Alba Iulia Unification National Museum. The work portrays a vibrant tableau in which a figure clad in a yellow robe and hat commands a chariot drawn by a winged horse.
About this work
Overview
The work portrays a vibrant tableau in which a figure clad in a yellow robe and hat commands a chariot drawn by a winged horse. The rider grips a whip, while the bright orange vehicle and the horse’s expansive wings dominate the central space. In the lower foreground, four robed men—one bearing a bell— observe the scene beneath a clear blue sky dotted with clouds, conveying a sense of motion.
Subject & Meaning
The composition suggests a mythic or religious narrative, likely referencing the ascension of Saint Elijah, a figure traditionally associated with fire and the heavens. The presence of the chariot and the celestial horse underscores themes of divine transport and spiritual elevation, while the attendant figures may represent earthly witnesses to the saint’s heavenly journey.
Technique & Style
Executed in a folk‑art idiom, the painting relies on bold outlines and saturated hues to emphasize form and energy. The artist employs cross‑hatching to model surfaces and create texture, particularly on the horse’s wings and the chariot’s structure, enhancing the visual tension between movement and stillness.
Context
Rooted in the visual language of regional popular art, the piece reflects a tradition of storytelling through vivid color and simplified figures. Its stylistic choices align with a broader movement that sought to preserve cultural motifs while adapting them to contemporary subjects, situating the work within a lineage of communal narrative painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ilie Poienaru kept his life quieter than his bold ink lines. He drew saints and biblical scenes with a steady hand, using nothing but black and white to make halos glow and robes drape real. If you’ve ever stood in a…
Museum
Alba Iulia Unification National Museum
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