Artwork
Maica Domnului cu Pruncul
Maica Domnului cu Pruncul is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Savu Poienaru. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Alba Iulia Orthodox Archdiocese.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1808 by Savu Poienaru, this panel titled *Maica Domnului cu Pruncul* is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a religious tableau of four figures arranged horizontally, with a crowned mother and child at the centre, flanked by two standing attendants in richly colored robes. The dark backdrop accentuates the gold halos and vivid garments.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, both adorned with crowns that signify their divine status. The accompanying figures, dressed in red and blue garments trimmed in gold, likely serve as angels or saints, reinforcing the sacred narrative and emphasizing the intercessory role of the holy family within Orthodox iconography.
Technique & Style
Signs of age—fading, surface cracks, and a slightly uneven surface—indicate the work’s antiquity and the materials’ natural deterioration over two centuries.
Poienaru employed a conventional iconographic format, using flat modeling and stylized outlines typical of early 19th‑century Romanian religious art. The palette relies on saturated reds, blues, and gold, while the figures are outlined with luminous halos. Signs of age—fading, surface cracks, and a slightly uneven surface—indicate the work’s antiquity and the materials’ natural deterioration over two centuries.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed in 1808 and has remained in the public domain as part of the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. Its provenance traces directly to the museum’s acquisition records, which list it as a representative example of Savu Poienaru’s ecclesiastical output, reflecting the regional artistic traditions of early modern Wallachia.
Artist & collection
Artist
Savu Poienaru left behind a small set of religious drawings and paintings from the early 1800s.
