Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș
Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru t͡siˈɡara samurˈkaʃ]; also known as Al. Tzigara, Tzigara-Sumurcaș, Tzigara-Samurcash, Tzigara-Samurkasch or Țigara-Samurcaș; April 4, 1872 – April 30, 1952) was a Romanian art historian, ethnographer, museologist and cultural journalist, also known as local champion of art conservation, Romanian Police leader and pioneer radio broadcaster. Tzigara was a member of the Junimea literary society, holding positions at the National School of Fine Arts, the University of Bucharest and lastly the University of Cernăuți. During his youth, he was secretary to Carol I, the King of Romania. Close to the royal family, he also served as head of the Carol I Academic Foundation, where he set up a large collection of photographic plates. Tzigara achieved fame in 1906 as founder of the "National Museum", nucleus of the present-day Museum of the Romanian Peasant, but was also involved in arranging and preserving the Theodor Aman art fund.
Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș | |
|---|---|
Tzigara, photographed c. 1914 | |
| Born | April 4, 1872 Bucharest, Principality of Romania |
| Died | April 30, 1952 (aged 80) Filantropia Hospital, Bucharest, Romanian People's Republic |
| Resting place | Bellu Cemetery, Bucharest |
| Other names | Al. Tzigara, Tzigara-Sumurcaș, Tzigara-Samurcash, Tzigara-Samurkasch, Țigara-Samurcaș |
| Awards | Order of the Star of Romania, Grand Officer class Order of St. Sava |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Bucharest Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Influences | Wilhelm von Bode, Eugène Grasset, Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, Titu Maiorescu, Alexandru Odobescu, Grigore Tocilescu |
| Academic work | |
| Era | 19th and 20th centuries |
| School or tradition | Junimea |
| Main interests | ethography, museology, art conservation, art of Romania, eugenics |
| Signature | |
During World War I, Tzigara-Samurcaș irritated Romanian public opinion by accepting to serve in a puppet administration set up by the Central Powers. Although his conduct was considered benign by the legitimate government, it drew him accusations of collaborationism from within academia, and aggravated his long-standing conflict with historian Nicolae Iorga. Tzigara was prevented from advancing in his university career over the interwar period, but compensated for this mishap with other achievements: he was a delegate to several world fairs, the first-ever lecturer on Radio Romania's staff, the editor in chief of Convorbiri Literare magazine, and, shortly before retirement, a corresponding member of the Academy. His post-World War II years were spent in obscurity, owing to his ideological incompatibility with the Romanian communist regime.
Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș was alleged to be Carol I's illegitimate son, a rumor fueled by his closeness to court. He was himself the father of artist Ana Tzigara-Berza, and father in law of folklorist Marcu Berza.