Sacred icons in Easter lights: the Musteață family showcases art at the National Museum of Ethnography
The icons created by the Musteaţă dynasty, which are true gems of the genre, are currently displayed at the Art Gallery of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History in the capital. This exhibition, dedicated to the Easter holidays, offers a deep exploration of sacred art.
Out of the 24 icons on display, 22 were painted by the late artist Constantin Musteaţă, who was the father of Dumitru Musteaţă.
“From him, I inherited this profession and the joy of working on icons. It is both work and peace, a form of prayer through painting. It brings me even greater happiness to have my father's icons in my studio, always surrounding me. His spirit and the aesthetics he promoted continue to be a guiding influence,” says the fine artist.
Dumitru Musteaţă acknowledges that he wished to showcase more of his work in the exhibition, but he was only able to present two icons.
“Practically, I don’t have any of my own icons in my studio. As I create them, they are sent all around the world—to Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta, Romania, and Ukraine," the artist explains.
The beauty and spiritual messages conveyed through the works of art and faith left a profound impression on the visitors.
“There is a sacred feeling—something divine, I would say.”
“The icon communicates holiness, light, and faith.”
“The way Mr. Constantin paints these icons, which I once knew personally, exudes a sense of calm that is often associated with icons. This exhibition captures both the rigor of the canon and the joy of discovering unexpected elements within the compositions,” says Ghenadie Popescu, a visual artist.
"Although the exhibition is relatively small in terms of the number of pieces, it is very expressive. Both artists are masters of this style of painting, which, unfortunately, does not always achieve the heights that an icon should reach in our country,” says the fine artist Ghenadie Jalbă.
"Museum visitors will have the opportunity to see these beautiful paintings and learn more about this craft, which is not very well-known or developed in the Republic of Moldova. It is an ancient tradition," states Petru Vicol, the director of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History.
The exhibition "Icons in Easter Lights: The Musteață Family - Icon Painters from Father to Son" will be open until the end of April.
