Temporary Exhibitions
A representative of the Golden Generation of Fine Arts in the Republic of Moldova, Eleonora Romanescu revitalized the country’s artistic heritage through the freshness and intensity of her colour harmonies, based on simultaneous contrasts of remarkable aesthetic diversity. A true poet of colour, the artist demonstrated the same dedication in easel painting and graphics as she did in decorative arts, tapestry, restoration and teaching.
Eleonora Romanescu was born on April 26, 1926, in Leușeni, Telenești District, into the family of Dumitru Romanescu and Maria Crăciun. After completing primary school in her native village, she continued her studies at the Girls’ Gymnasium in Chișinău (1937–1940), followed by the Reuniunea Femeilor Române Lyceum (1941–1944). In 1944, the school where she studied relocated to Craiova. Upon returning to Chișinău, she studied at the Ilia Repin School of Fine Arts from 1945 to 1949, today known as the Alexandru Plămădeală Republican College of Fine Arts.
Beginning in 1953, she worked for five years as a drawing teacher at the Pedagogical School in Orhei.
Between 1955 and 1957, she attended painting restoration courses at the I. Grabar Central State Restoration Workshops in Moscow. In 1957, she began working at the National Art Museum of Moldova, first as chief curator and later as a painter-restorer.
From 1969 to 1982, she taught at the Republican School of Fine Arts in Chișinău. She restored several icons from Răciula Monastery that had been preserved during periods of persecution against Christians. In 1991–1992, she restored the iconostasis of the Chapel of the Theological Seminary at the State University of Moldova and painted the iconostasis of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena in Chișinău.
Her first works, mainly still lifes, were presented at an exhibition of young visual artists in 1954. In 1958, she became a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR, and several years later, a member of the Council of the Union of Artists of the Moldavian SSR.
Throughout her long artistic career, Eleonora Romanescu explored figurative and thematic compositions, portraiture and landscape, giving particular attention to the latter and investing it with profound spiritual energy. Landscape, in its various manifestations, together with the human being and their meaningful relationship with the surrounding world, forms the thematic essence of the artist’s entire oeuvre.
In recognition of her achievements, Eleonora Romanescu was named an Honorary Citizen of Telenești District, while the gymnasium in her native village of Leușeni bears her name. She established a permanent exhibition at the school and donated 44 works to the institution.
Among her awards and distinctions are the Order of the Badge of Honour (1970); the honorary title Master of Arts (1976); the State Prize for the “Native Land” cycle (1976); the title People’s Artist of the Republic of Moldova (1986); the Order of the Republic (1996); the Prize of the Union of Artists of Moldova (1996); the Eminescu Prize (1997); and the Iurie Matei Prize (2005). In 2013, for her achievements in culture and art, Eleonora Romanescu was awarded the National Prize of the Republic of Moldova. In 2018, she was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit of Romania, Commander rank, Category C – Fine Arts.
Her works are held in the collections of the National Art Museum of Moldova, the Art Museums of Cluj-Napoca and Constanța, the Exhibition Hall of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania, the Art Museum in Moscow, Russia, art museums in Kyiv, Lviv and Uzhhorod, Ukraine, and the Art Museum in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Eleonora Romanescu passed away on November 4, 2019, in Chișinău, at the age of 93.
Eleonora Romanescu rightfully occupies a distinguished place among the great colourists of Bessarabia and beyond. Her landscapes, portraits and still lifes represent subtle explorations of colour—analyses and juxtapositions of hues which, taken together, form a compelling artistic statement that vividly, warmly and persistently conveys the distinctive character of her homeland.
