The "Vasile Grigore" collection, on the 25th of May 2004 listed as public property, only in the exhibition room comprises 500 pieces displaying an ensamble gradually illustrating almost all the fields of the fine arts. Following the tradition of the collectors K.H. Zambaccian, Anastase Simu, Dr. Dona, the selection of works from the Vasile Grigore donation comprises works of Romanian interwar painting, sculpture and graphics (Theodor Pallady, Gheorghe Petraşcu, Iosif Iser, NicolaeTonitza) and contemporary ones (Alexandru Ciucurencu, Comeliu Baba, Gheorghe Vanatoru, Ion Musceleanu, Lucian Grigorescu, Constantin Blendea, Henry Catargi, Ion Popescu Negreni, Ion Irimescu, Mihai Bu...culei, Vladimir Predescu, Traian Bradean, Jean AI. Steriadi). The master’s love for Romanian folk art and his passion of collecting authentic objects finally developed into a special ethnographic collection, merging various kinds of art: wooden and glass icons, pottery, religious objects and, last but not least, rugs completing the display of the hall. The link with world art is discrete and always seen through the perspective of Romanian art. The selection of Japanese prints, including famous artists such as Hiroshige, Utamaro, Kunisada, reflects the strong power of lines, like in Romanian graphics. The porcelain pieces, painted by hand or printed, from Japan or China, impress by their bright colours and sophistication of the surfaces of the pieces. The Delft English pottery, the German, Russian or French faience are a few of the types of the collection. The domestic artefacts also include engraved, hammered, stamped or perforated metal pieces. Harmoniously coloured, the Oriental prayer carpets suggest a historical reality in almost all the museum halls. Inlaid, intarsiated or painted, the pieces of furniture reveal the great craftsmanship and sensitivity of French, Dutch or Japanese cabinet-makers. Its collection of disks, as well as the library, important parts of the donation, completes it, while suggesting with great accuracy the trends that influenced both the artist and the collector.
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