Nicolae Grant

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Nicolae Grant, born in the Belvedere Palace in Bucharest to Effingham Grant and Zoe Racoviță, was a distinguished Romanian painter. Effingham Grant, a diplomat and philanthropist, instilled in his son a love for beauty and art, running an artifact shop that sparked Nicolae's passion for antiques. From a young age, Nicolae received encouragement from his aunt, Maria Rosetti, who gifted him brushes and watercolors on his 8th birthday. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Nicolae's lifelong dedication to painting. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest under the guidance of eminent masters such as Theodor Aman and Gheorghe Tattarescu. In 1885, against his father's wishes for him to study banking sciences, Nicolae continued his artistic education in Paris. There, he attended the School of Decorative Arts and ranked in the top 10 out of 410 applicants at the prestigious Ѐcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. In Paris, Nicolae Grant had the privilege of working in the studio of renowned artist Jean Léon Gérôme. After returning to Romania in 1892, he painted in Golești, Mușcel county, drawing inspiration from the local beauty. Teaming up with Theodor Pallady, he returned to France in 1893, cycling through picturesque areas and creating a series of paintings influenced by the prevailing impressionist style. Throughout his career, Nicolae Grant exhibited regularly in national and international exhibitions, gaining acclaim from both the public and art critics. Notably, his paintings of interiors, capturing family atmospheres and everyday scenes, became widely appreciated. Olimp Grigore Ioan described him as the "most conscientious, the most tenacious artist, and also the most honest with himself." Grant's extensive travels across Romania, exploring places like Rășinari, Bran, Balchik, and Horezu, enriched his artistic vision. His paintings, known for their vibrant warmth and wonderful blend of tones, remain a treasured contribution to Romanian art.