Romania's Art Treasures Beyond Dracula: Van Eyck in Transylvania

A journey through Romania's cultural heritage reveals masterpieces by Jan van Eyck, Titian, and Hans Memling at the Brukenthal Palace in Sibiu, alongside Gothic churches and Orthodox monasteries. The article critiques the Dracula myth for overshadowing Romania's rich artistic and architectural history. Key sites include the Peles Castle (built 1888 for King Carol I), the Church on the Hill in Sighisoara (1345), the Cozia Monastery (1386), Horezu Monastery (UNESCO, 1697), and the Corvi de Piatra Monastery (late 14th century). Van Eyck's 'Man with a Ring' (c. 1430) is highlighted as the first oil portrait, housed in Sibiu. The text contrasts Saxon and Romanian cultures, noting the influence of Flemish and Italian art, including a Crucifixion by Johannes von Rosenau (1445) and a Crucifixion by Antonello da Messina (c. 1460). The author, Ludovico Pratesi, is a curator and critic.