Marius Bunescu

He made his debut in 1911 at the Official Salon in Bucharest, and he had his first personal exhibit in 1919, at the Minerva Library. In 1921, Bunescu participated in the establishment of the Fine Arts Union (Romania), being elected secretary, and from 1923 to 1927 he was president of the union. He received the National Prize for Painting in 1938, and in 1940 he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Romania), Knight rank. In 1941 he was awarded the Order of the Crown, Commander rank. In 1944 he wrote a biographical study of Anastase Simu. Two years later, Bunescu was the chief force behind the initiative to open an art gallery at the high school in Caracal; the gallery now bears his name. In 1949 he took over the management of the Picture Gallery at the National Museum of Art. In 1967 he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit, 1st class. He was married to Magda (1895–1974), and had two sons, Preda (who defected to Germany, and worked at Radio Free Europe), and Udrea (a doctor who later left for Belgium). • Illustration — Grave of Bunescu and his wife at Bellu Cemetery Bunescu died in Bucharest in 1971 and is buried in the Romanian Orthodox Bellu Cemetery. He and his paintings appear on several stamps issued by Poșta Română: Venice paintings (1.55 and 6.40 lei, 1972), Construction Area painting (20 bani, 1973), Portrait (2.15 lei, 1981), Danube at the Cazan painting (2.80 lei, 2019).

• Name — Marius Bunescu • Born — 15 May 1881 • Birthplace — Caracal, Romanați County, Kingdom of Romania • Died — 31 March 1971 • Place of death — Bucharest, Socialist Republic of Romania • Resting Place — Bellu Cemetery, Bucharest • Education — Academy of Fine Arts, Munich • Known for — Painting • Spouse — Magda Bunescu • Relatives — Preda and Udrea (sons) • Awards — Order of the Crown, Commander rank Order of Cultural Merit (Romania), 1st class