Gravurile insolite ale lui Rafail Monah din cartea „Ușa pocăinţei”, Brașov, 1812
Monk Rafail’s Unwonted Engravings in the Book The Door of Repentance, Braşov, 1812

Summary/Abstract: The present study sets forth a systematic and thorough research of the five metal engravings: God’s Angel, Death, The Last Judgement, Hell and Heaven accomplished by Monk Rafail from the Neamţ Monastery to decorate the book entitled Uşa pocăinţei [The door of repentance], Braşov, 1812. In order to reveal the content and to decipher the message this study delivers, we have used the comparative method and an interdisciplinary approach. Even if artistically and technically these images prove certain inabilities, they interpose original themes or rarely encountered ones in the early Romanian book graphics. It’s obvious that their sources of inspiration are of occidental type as numerous similarities have been discovered in miniature and engraving (by P. P. Rubens and Corn. Galleus, Abraham Bosse) as well as in painting (Hieronymus Bosch). It has been found out that four engravings in The door of repentance have been used as models by Picu Pătruţ from Săliştea Sibiului, who is considered to be the last important miniaturist in Europe.

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