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Constantin Lecca

1807 – 1887

About

Romanian Artist. He was the first of his country to create Western-style religious paintings. Although he worked in a variety of genres, including history painting, he is best known for his portraits. The son of a merchant, In 1827 he went to Budapest, Hungary to study painting but it is generally believed that his skills were self-taught. In 1833, he accepted an invitation to teach at the "Școala Centrală" (Central School) in Craiova, Romania, and five years later he became the founder and editor of one of Romania's first cultural magazines, "Mozaicul". When he returned home from a trip to Paris, France in 1848, he participated in the Wallachian Revolution of 1848, and was forced to quit his position and leave his family for fear of reprisals. He remained under cover in his hometown for a time, and was finally able to secure a professorship at Saint Sava National College in Bucharest. He then collaborated with artist Misu Popp and painter murals at various churches. After 1870 his