Nicolae Grigorescu (1837-1907)

1837

He is born on the 15 of May, in Pitaru (Dambovitza County), the sixth son of Ion and Ruxandra Grigorescu.

1845

His father, Ion Grigorescu, dies and the whole family goes to live in Bucharest.

1848

Nicolae becomes apprentice of Anton Chladek, an icons' painter.

1853

Paints the church from Baicoi.

1854

Paints some icons for the Caldarusani Monastery.

1856

Presents one of his historic paintings to prince Barbu Stirbei. His application for a scholarship abroad is rejected by the regent Alexandru Dimitrie Ghica.

1856

Paints the church of Zamfira Convent.

1857

Participates to a contest for a scholarship in Italy, won by C.I.Stanceascu, his future colleague from Paris.

1858

Paints the church of Agapia Convent.

1861

He obtains a scholarship, with Mihail Kogalniceanu's help, to Paris. Paints the church from Puchenii Mari.

1863

Works in his workshop in Paris, 23, Rue du Cherche-Midi.

1864

Works at Louvre Museum, making copies of the paintings of the world's greatest artists.

1864

Comes back to Romania for a documentation journey.

1867

Paricipates at the Universal Exhibition in Paris with six paintings. Comes back to Romania and works at Caldarusani, Targoviste, Campulung and Rucar.

1868

Participates at the Barbizon painters' exhibition. Napoleon III buys one of his painings. Exhibits for the first time at Salon de Paris.

1870

Exhibits 26 paintings at the alive artists' exhibition. He wins the gold medal for the "Portrait of the boyar Nasturel Herescu". Paints few more portraits ("Dimitrie Grecescu",doctor Alexandru Marcovici").

1871

Participates at the opening of the first exhibition under the patronage of the Society of Fine-Arts Friends with 148 paintings. Participates at the Universal Exhibition in Wien.

1873

Starts a two years tour through Wien, Trieste, Venice, Rome, Neaples, Athens, Constantinople.

1876

Participates at the third edition of the exhibition initiated by the Society of the Fine-Arts Friends with paintings with rustic theme.

1881

Organizes a big personal exhibition and participates at the alive artists exhibition with "The Foot Soldier".

1883

Journey in France, in Bretagne and the environs of Paris. Paints a lot of sea landscapes.

1889

Participates at the Universal Exhibition in Paris and at the Romanian Atheneum. Personal exhibition at the Romanian Atheneum will follow in 1891, 1895, 1897, 1902, 1905.

1901

He gets sick and goes to Karlsbad for a cure.

1906

Chooses the paintings for the General Exhibition.

1907

He dies at Campina, without finishing the painting "Coming back from fair".