The sole painted portrait of Princess Elena Bibescu will be exhibited at the "George Enescu' National Museum.

The sole painted portrait of Elena Bibescu, significant figure towards the end of the 19th century, to whom George Enescu owes his debut in the Parisian cultural life, was purchased by the "George Enescu' National Museum. It will be part of the permanent exhibition of the Bucharest cultural institution.

The painting was won by the "Enescu' Museum in an auction that was held at the Drouot Hotel in Paris, one of the most important auction houses in the world, specialized in selling antiques. Participating in an international auction is a premiere for the Bucharest Museum, which paid EUR 4,800 for this work of art. The director of the museum, Laura Manolache, stated for Evenimentul Zilei that the "painting found its rightful place at the "George Enescu' National Museum, given that the relationship between Enescu and Princess Elena Bibescu represents a key element in understanding this musician's exceptional career.'

The Royal Pianist

Princess Elena Bibescu was the daughter of Manolache Kostaki Epureanu, Minister and Prime Minister during the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza and Carol I. She was also the wife of Prince Alexandru Bibescu. Princess Elena studied piano with Anton Rubinstein at the Conservatory in Vienna, specializing afterwards in interpretative art, in Paris, with Marc de la Nux. Unfortunately, she is less known nowadays, which is also caused by the fact that there are no recordings of her performances (the princess preferred giving recitals in her own parlour).

"Vice-mother' of George Enescu

Last year, on March 5th, Radio Romania Music broadcast a report from the launching of the book called Princess Elena Bibescu -the Great Pianist, signed by C. D. Zeletin. The author also talks about the famous artistic and literary parlour -visited by figures such as Marcel Proust, Charles Gounod, Ernest Chausson or Gabriel Fauré -held by the aristocrat in Paris for over thirty years. One of the great merits of Elena Bibescu was that of launching George Enescu in the Parisian cultural life. The moment is highlighted by C. D. Zeletin, in his book (page 15): "in the long life of a human being, one can discover the existence of a peak moment whose meaning can or cannot be grasped. (...) It is the great event of life; it is the moment that creates (...). For princess Bibescu, this moment was George Enescu's debut as a composer in Paris, 1898, with Počme roumain.' Indeed, Enescu was constantly supported by the one known to Parisians as Hélčne Bibesco; after graduating from the Vienna Conservatory, the composer continued his studies at the Conservatoire de Paris and made his debut in the Colonne Concerts, thanks to Elena Bibescu. As a sign of gratitude for the one whom he would not call "vice-mother' in public, Enescu dedicated several compositions to Princess Bibescu.

The Painting Signed by Henri Martin

The portrait of Princess Elena Bibescu signed by French painter Henri Martin is described by art critique Gabriel Badea Paun - who currently lives in Paris and who informed the board of the Enescu Museum regarding the sale of the painting -Tuse scurte, paralele - a result of the Neo-impressionist current, recreates the shape of the model in an ideal chromatic palette. The work is placed in a Neo-gothic frame, designed especially for this purpose, which accentuates the impression of reverie, placing the painting in an era beyond the limits of time, a theme dear to the symbolists, whose ideals were definitely shared by the patron of the painting and by the painter himself. It is, I believe Henri Martin's only work exhibited in a Romanian museum', added Gabriel Badea Paun for Evenimentul Zilei.

Exhibition of the Painting

Laura Manolache, administrator of the "George Enescu' National Museumannounced during an interview given to our radio station that the painting will be exhibited beginning with May 5th at the Cantacuzino Palace Hall. The unveiling ceremony will also host a four-hand recital for piano, courtesy of musicians Corina Raducanu and Eugen Dumitrescu. .