Name of Object:

The Attack of Smârdan

Location:

Bucharest, Romania

Holding Institution:

National Museum of Romanian History

 About National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest

Date of Object:

1885

Author:

Nicolae Grigorescu (15 May 1838, Pitaru, Dâmboviţa County-21 July 1907, Câmpina, Prahova County)

Provenance:

Romania

Description:

Romania, that in the second half of the 19th century was still under Ottoman sovereignty, participated in the Russian-Ottoman of 1877-1878 war on Russia’s side. In May 1877 the Parliament declared Romania’s independence, which was recognized by the Ottoman Empire and the Great Powers at the peace congress organized in Berlin after the conflict (June – July 1878). When Romania entered the war, Nicolae Grigorescu was one of the painters hired to accompany the Romanian army. One of his best known works depicts the victory that the Romanian soldiers won against the Ottomans at Smârdan (24 January 1878). The painting, which has several variants, was based on others’ accounts because Grigorescu was sick and could not be present on the front when the battle took place.

Type of Object

Painting

Citation of this web page:

"The Attack of Smârdan" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;rm;46;en

MWNF Working Number: RO 046