Draft:Paul Rezeanu

Paul Rezeanu was born on November 9, 1937, in Breaza, Prahova County, Romania passed away on March 1, 2021, in Bucharest, Romania.

His academic and professional life was devoted to the study and promotion of Romanian art, culminating in a profound legacy marked by extensive research, publication, and education.

Academic Background and Career
Rezeanu completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Bucharest 's Faculty of History in 1964 and achieved his PhD in History, specialized in Art History on May 24, 1976. His dissertation, titled "The Fine Arts in Oltenia (1821–1944)" established him as a respected scholar in Romanian art history.

He held various positions throughout his career, including Director of the National Art Museum of Craiova between 1970 and 2004 and a Senior Research Scientist at the Romanian Academy 's Craiova Branch. His tenure at the Faculty of Theology in Craiova included roles as a Lecturer and later as a Professor where he educated students in Art History,Byzantine History and Spirituality from 1994 to 2008.

Contributions to Art History
A member of the Romanian Fine Arts Union from 1982 and an expert affiliated with ICOM-UNESCO in Paris, Rezeanu's expertise was recognized both nationally and internationally. He was instrumental in organising retrospectives of Constantin Brâncuși's work, as well as actively participating in the academic evaluation of artworks by numerous Romanian artists.

Paul Rezeanu was a member of the evaluation team of the Grimberg auction house in Bucharest, as an expert on Constantin Brâncuși, Ion Țuculescu Theodor Aman, Eustațiu Stoenescu, Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna, Ipolit Strâmbu and Ion Sălișteanu. He was one of the organizers of the Brâncusi retrospective exhibition "Brancusi – 100 years from his birth" in Bucharest and Craiova (1976), "Brancusi, masterpieces from Romanian Museum" exhibition in GAGOSIAN GALLERY New York, (1984), "Brancusi retrospective exhibition" in Paris and Philadelphia (1995).

Paul Rezeanu had personally seen and studied over 90% of Brâncuși's works housed in museums and art collections around the world. He conducted research in various archives, including the "Brâncuși Fund" at The Kandinsky Library/Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, which was opened to public access after 2001.

He organized and coordinated the famous cycle of conferences "Through the great museums and cities of the world" (1978–1990)

Controversies
One of the significant controversies of his career involved the handling of the sculpture "The Kiss" by Constantin Brâncuși during its exhibition in Amsterdam in 1998. The incident raised questions about the protocols of art transportation and insurance, leading to a considerable financial and reputational dispute that was widely covered in the media.

Scholarly Books
Artele plastice în Oltenia (1821–1944) - Published by "Scrisul Românesc", 1980.

Ghidul Muzeului de Artă Craiova - Published in five editions by Meridiane, "Arc 2000".

Constantin Lecca - Monograph published by Meridiane in 1988 and "Arcade" in 2005.

Eustațiu Stoenescu - Monograph published by Meridiane in 1985 and "Arc 2000" in 1998.

Pictorul Stoica Dumitrescu - Monograph published by Meridiane, 1990.

''Craiova. Studii și cercetări de istorie și istoria artei'' - Published by "Helios", 1999.

Brâncuși la Craiova - Published by "Arc 2000", 2001.

Artiști plastici craioveni - Published by "Arc 2000", 2003.

''Craiova. Amintirile orașului'' - Published by "Alma", 2007.

Sculptori puțin cunoscuți - Published by "Alma", 2007.

Caricaturistul N.S. Petrescu - Găină - Monograph published by "Alma", 2008.

Pictori puțin cunoscuți - Published by "Alma", 2009.

Istoria artelor plastice în Oltenia - Volumes I and II, published by "Alma" in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

''Brâncuși. Tatăl nostru'' - Monograph published by "Autograf", 2012.

''Brâncuși. Ultimul dac'' - Published by "Autograf", 2014.

''Brâncuși. The Man and His Artwork. Catalogue raisonné of the sculptures.'' - Published by MONITORUL OFICIAL R.A., 2019.

Scientific Articles
Historica - Published by the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, from 1969 to 1971.

Studii și Cercetări de Istoria Artei - Published by the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, in 1969, 1974, 1975.

Revista muzeelor - Published in Bucharest from 1970 to 2004.

Arhitectura - Published in Bucharest in 1981, 1982, 1983.

Peuce - Published in Tulcea, 1977.

Oltenia. Studii și comunicări - Published in Craiova from 1986 to 1997.

Pagini de artă și contemporană - Published in Oradea, 1996.

Colocviul de istorie și istoria artei - Held at the National Cotroceni Museum in 1996 and 2001.

Venezieni e Romeni - Published in Venice, 2003.

Studii - Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai - Published in Cluj-Napoca, 1997.

Brâncuși. Der Hahn - Published in Munich, 2009.

Historia - Published in Bucharest from 2004 to 2010.

Magazin istoric - Published from 2007 to 2015.

Awards and Honors
Winner of the Pro-Victoria Art Award of the Marcel Guguianu Foundation in 1998.

Ordinul „Meritul Cultural" - Cultural Merit Order in the rank of Officer awarded in February 2004 for contributions to cultural heritage.

Laureat al Academiei Române - awarded by the Romanian Academy Award for  Constantin Lecca 's Monograph in 2007.

Cetățean de Onoare al Craiovei - Honorary Citizen of Craiova, awarded in 2012.

Conclusion
Paul Rezeanu's enduring impact on the field of Romanian art history is undeniable. His dedication to the study and promotion of Romanian art has left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire current and future generations of historians and artists alike.