Beginning April 16, eight landmark new works of art can be seen in the “Vermont and the Charm of the Belle Époque” exhibit at Art Safari New Museum
Art Safari New Museum announces exhibition expansion Vermont and Belle Époque charm with eight reference works from the collection of the National Art Museum of Romania (MNAR), one of the most important museum institutions in the country. The works add new layers of depth to the exhibition and offer the public an even wider picture of Nicolae Vermont's artistic career.
“The collaboration with MNAR represents a recognition of the importance of the Art Safari exhibition approach and the commitment to the recovery and enhancement of the Romanian artistic heritage – through the exhibitions and retrospectives dedicated to the great masters of Romanian art. By being available to remove reference pieces from the collection, the museum contributes essentially to the public's experience and to the understanding of Vermont's work in all its complexity”, declares Maria Munteanu, Art Safari New Museum curator.
Among the eight works, an intimate self-portrait in oil from 1905 stands out, “Easel self-portrait“. The work is special because, in a less usual way, Vermont shows himself standing, next to the easel, in his workshop in the house that was located on Bulevardul Regina Maria, in Bucharest. While working, he smokes a pipe. It is a perfect representation of the bohemian artistic atmosphere that characterized the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the era in which Vermont was formed artistically and achieved notoriety.
In a way, the work encapsulates both a portrait of the artistic existence of the time, but also the romantic projection of the public onto the artist and the creative act, so deeply rooted in the European cultural consciousness. This last valence can be read by the contemporary public, which is invited to reflect exactly on these multiple layers of ideas, feelings, meanings, which inevitably lie on a past era, with the passage of time, with the evolution of societies and the political, ideological and aesthetic concerns of mankind.
“Easel self-portrait“as well as the other new works can be seen by the public from Thursday, April 16, at Art Safari New Museum, Amzei 13, Sectorul 1.
The most beautiful period in Romanian history
Housed in the Museum Pavilion of the Art Safari New Museum, the exhibition Vermont and Belle Époque charm traces the artistic career of Nicolae Vermont (1866–1932) – painter and engraver, one of the artists who, around 1900, set in motion one of the most important stages of renewal of Romanian art. Formed at the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest, under the guidance of Theodor Aman, and perfected at the Academy of Arts in Munich, Vermont absorbed Jugendstil influences and created, together with Ștefan Luchian, Frederic Storck, Arthur Verona and Ipolit Strâmbu, the artistic societies Ileana and Tinerimea Artistică, at the same time opening the first exhibition of independent artists in Romania.
The exhibition at Art Safari New Museum brings together works from all stages of his creation, from sketches made in Munich museums to allegorical compositions (Bachus), religious paintings (Crucifixion) and works with a social message (Emigrants), along with a section dedicated to engraving.
The scenography of the exhibition is signed by Cosmin Florea, and the curator is Maria Munteanu.
Art Safari, the most visited event dedicated to art in Romania, opened its new exhibition space, of approximately 4,500 sqm, in Amzei 13, Sector 1, Bucharest, on March 26, 2026. The current exhibition season runs until July 19, 2026 and includes, in addition to Vermont and Belle Époque charmthe exhibitions A: Eminescu. The rational poet and Felix Afternoon. diaryas well as exhibitions dedicated to international artists Karoline Babette Kaiser and Anastasiia Lisnycha. The season also includes a rich program of events – guided tours, night tours, workshops for adults, meetings with artists and interactive experiences, the schedule of which can be consulted here.
About Art Safari New Museum
Art Safari New Museum is held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan. Art Safari is made in partnership with the City Hall of Sector 1 and is supported by Banca Transilvania, Glo, Mastercard, Voxility, Lidl, Porsche, Catena, Policolor, Carpet and More, Lindab, Epson and others and specializes in creating exhibition pavilions of visual art and national history. Annual organizer of the Bucharest Art Pavilion, now in its 18th edition, realizes, in partnership with Romanian and international art museums, as well as with private collectors, retrospective exhibitions that aim to recover heritage values and contemporary art exhibitions. With a strong educational side, its mission is to bring art closer to the public and educate new generations, including by organizing art workshops, guided tours and contemporary art exhibitions in unconventional spaces (such as the Bucharest metro). In the 17 editions so far, it has registered over 1 million visitors. More details on artsafari.ro.
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