Alexandru Darida original oil painting The Joy of Music 38x43

Description: Alexandru Darida (Romanian/American, 1955 - )The Joy of Music oil on canvas, signed l.r. canvas measures approximately: 24" W x 30" Hframe measures approximately: 37 3/4" W x 43 3/4" H Please note that shipping charges are inclusive of insurance, payment processing, and carrier fees. S1. About Alexandru Darida Born to an Italian father and Romanian mother, he grew up amidst breathtaking medieval castles in Transylvania, in the city of Satu Mare – the region famous as the birthplace of the Dracula legend. The romantic imagery of his youth and the artistic talents of his older brother Ioan, a specialist in art restoration and conservation, with a PhD in the subject and an art advisor for ALIS Auction House Bucharest, provided the framework for Darida’s own artistic endeavor. After graduating from the Ecoles des Beaux Arts in Romania, in 1978, Darida struggled as an artist with the restraints on creative freedom imposed by the communist regime. Behind the forbidding iron curtain, he was limited to painting what the government told him to paint, and was denied permission to paint anything else. Overwhelmed by the restrictions imposed upon him, he realized that he had to escape the tyranny of communism in order to fully pursue his artistic passion. In 1985, Darida made a courageous escape to Italy, where he was determined to pursue his new-found artistic freedom in the city of Rome. He enrolled for studies at the then small private Benedetti Liberal Academy of Art in Rome Savouring his artistic freedom, Darida traveled extensively through the museums of Western Europe, seeing masterpieces for himself that he could never have seen in communist Romania. He visited museums in Venice, Florence, Sienna, Bologna, Naples and elsewhere, finding particular inspiration in the work of Botticelli, Rembrandt and Modigliani. By 1987 Darida was tired of being pursued by the Romanian government. He sought the help of Clelio Darida (no relation), undersecretary of the Minister of the Interior, former Mayor of Rome and an admirer of the artist’s work. Darida immigrated to the United States that year, going to Chicago where he continued his studies at the American Academy of Art under the influential teacher and watercolor artist Irving Shapiro, who ventured out into nature for his inspiration. Darida’s museum placements include the Powerhouse Museum and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, and his work had been featured at Municipal Galleries across Romania, in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, Illinois State Museum and the Museum of Art in Bucharest, Romania. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Formello-Roma International Prize for Painting, and the Award for Excellence in the Multimedia Miniatures Show in Romania. Alexandru is heavily involved with music – which he finds inspirational, soothing and even a bit magical. He paints to music and often finds inspiration in the voice of his wife, Marianna, an accomplished opera singer. He is an experienced Madrigal conductor, and plays the piano (adding with self-effacing charm that he is “not very good” but finds it relaxing, nonetheless.) “Between painting and music,” he says, “that is my life!”

Price: 6750 USD

Location: Chicago, Illinois

End Time: 2025-02-03T23:41:47.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD