Artwork
Dimitrie A. Sturza
Dimitrie A. Sturza is an unspecified painting by Mihail Tacorian. It dates from 950 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum.
About this work
Overview
Mihail Tacorian’s portrait, titled “Dimitrie A. Sturza,” is an oil on canvas dating from roughly the mid‑10th century, according to the museum’s catalogue. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed among other ethnographic portraits.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on an elderly gentleman with a white beard and mustache, dressed in a dark suit. He holds a small red square object in his right hand and a black hat in his left, his expression solemn and his stance suggesting forward motion. The identity of the red object remains ambiguous, inviting speculation about its symbolic or personal significance.
Technique & Style
Tacorian employs a caricature‑like approach, exaggerating facial features and using bold, clean lines. The palette is largely muted, dominated by off‑white background and dark clothing, while the vivid red square provides a striking accent that draws the viewer’s eye.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings shortly after its creation, though precise acquisition details are not recorded in the available documentation. It has remained in the museum’s permanent collection, serving as a representative example of the artist’s portraiture.
Context
Created during a period when Romanian artists were exploring national identity through portraiture, the work reflects contemporary interests in depicting notable figures with a blend of realism and stylized exaggeration. The inclusion of everyday objects, such as the hat and the red square, aligns with ethnographic interests in material culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mihail Tacorian’s prints and drawings capture mid-1930s Bucharest with crisp portraits and politician profiles printed on verso pages.
