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Family Background
I was born in Bucharest on 4th August 1927. My father, Gheorghe Nanu, a law graduate, had been a councillor-auditor of the Court of Accounts (deceased in 1963) and my mother had a letters’ degree (deceased in 1980). I had been married to dr. Rares Popp, a surgeon (deceased in 1990), son of Sabin Popp, a well-known Romanian painter, and of Theodora Cernat Popp, a sculptress. I have a daughter, Unda Popp, born in 1955, currently a senior lecturer with the Academy of Fine Arts – clothing design-fashion department, mother of two children.
Education
1934 – 1945 Primary and secondary school – “St. Mary” – Pitar Mos catholic School, Bucharest 1945 - 1950 Faculty of Letters- Bucharest and the Academy of Fine Arts- the painting department (painter Jean Al. Steriadi’s class); - diploma paper in the history and theory of arts (the arts’ history and theory department had been established in the meantime); 1977 a doctor’s degree in the history of art.
Teaching Activity
After completion of my studies, I started teaching Art History (universal and Romanian art) courses at the Academy of Fine Arts, which I continued until retirement. 1951 – assistant lecturer; 1954 – senior lecturer; 1968 – reader (I was supposed to be promoted on a contest basis - as a professor, but the promotion was cancelled by the Ministry of Education – in 1986).
I taught courses of world art history, history of painting, sculpture, decorative arts etc. and the first courses of costume history and theory course with the scenography and fashion design departments (I brought my contribution to the setting up of the latter). After retirement, I have continued to teach at the Academy of Arts – the stage direction department.
I have been teaching – on a full time basis – at the Theatrical Art and Film University since 1994.
I am a member of the commission for the doctor’s degree examination in art history.
Activity as an art historian and critic
I am a member of the Union of Plastic Artists of Romania (as trainee member – since 1950, and as permanent member – since 1963) and a member of the critics’ department of the Union of Plastic Artists.
Works on art published:
1. Gh. Tattarescu – a monograph, ESPLA, 1955 2. A. Dürer, ESPLA, 1957 3. Th. Pallady, Meridiane Publishing House, 1963 4. History of Fine Arts Institute, chapters II and IV, Meridiane Publishing House, 1964 5. On sculpture, Meridiane Publishing House, 1966 6. O. Angheluta, Meridiane Publishing House, 1967 7. Sabin Popp, Meridiane Publishing House, 1968 8. Antonello da Messina, Meridiane Publishing House, 1969 9. Knowledge on art, in Drawing 5, Didactic Publishing House, 1969 10. A. Dürer: Nourishment of painter’s apprentice (texts of art history) – introductory study, notes, checking of translation, Meridiane Publishing House, 1970 11. Bourdelle, Meridiane Publishing House, 1971 12. Cranach, Meridiane Publishing House, 1972 13. Drawing 6 – Knowlegde on Art, Didactic Publishing House, 1973 14. Sabin Popp, monographic catalogue and retrospective exhibition organisation, 1973 15. A. Lhote; from painter’s pallette to the writing table, translation, foreword and notes, Meridiane Publishing House, 1974 16. Following Dürer’s footsteps, Albatros Publishing House, 1976 17. Art, style, costume, Meridiane Publishing House, 1976, English version 1981 18. Donatello, Meridiane Publishing House, 1980 19. I. Gr. Popovici, Meridiane Publishing House, 1984 20. I.L. Murnu (in co-operation with Doina Mândru), Meridiane Publishing House. 1986 21. Al. Calinescu (in co-operation with Florica Cluceru), Meridiane Publishing House, 1988 22. Spiru Chitila, (in co-operation with Florica Cluceru), Meridiane Publishing House, 1989 23. Plastic Education, Secondary School Textbook, IX form, Vizual Publishing House, 2000 24. Plastic Education, Secondary School Textbook, X form, Vizual Publishing House, 2000 25. Plastic Education, Secondary School Textbook, XI form, Vizual Publishing House, 2000 26. Art on the Human Body, Compania Publishing House, 2001
Studies and articles:
About 250 (published in ARTA Review, Art History Studies and Researches, The Museums’ Review etc.), on Romanian sculpture in the inter-war period, commented letters of painter Sabin Popp, on sculptress Theodora Cernat Popp, on religious painting of Olga Greceanu and Costin Ioanid’s painting etc.
Other contributions:
- Sets of commented film slides, on chapters of the history of styles (architecture, sculpture, painting) and decorative arts, published by the Ministry of Education as well as videocassettes such as “Confluences between music and visual arts” (1993), “C. Ioanid” (1995). - Lectures, radio and TV programmes (around 150). |
