The Monastery of Curtea de Arges
Considering all the monuments that used to be residences of the Wallachian princes in Arges county, the church founded by the pious prince Neagoe Basarab is one of the most important constructions illustrating art and religious architecture.
The inscriptions, the documents of the 16th and also the writings of foreign travellers speak highly of the architectural harmony and equilibrium of Prince Neagoe's church, calling it one of the wonders of the world.
Begun in 1514 by Neagoe Basarab's will to have a wonderful monument built, the church was elected on the very place of the first Metropolitanate of Wallachia, under Prince's supervision and following master Manole's advice, being built in stone, marble and mosaic.
Although unfinished, in 1517 Prince Nagoe Basarab decided that the Monastery of Curtea de Arges should be consacrated on the Assumption of the Virgin. After its consacration, Neagoe Basarab kept on paying a great attention to this church, having the new monastery in Arges embellished with a surrounding wall, cells, a refectory, a belfry, making it, as Gavriil Protul said "resemble God's paradise".
In 1521, when the founder passed away, his body was buried in the pronaos, which thus became a princely necropolis.
Neagoe Basarab's follower, Radu from Afumati did everything that had still to be done for the church,as by his marriage to Ruxandra (Neagoe Basarab's daughter) he had taken over not only the rights, but also the duties of founder of the monastery. Thus, by his orders, on 18th of September 1526, panter Dobromir finished the painting of the church.
It is worth mentioning that in 1793, when the Diocese of Arges was set up, Neagoe Basarab's foundation became episcopal residence, a rank kept till 1949.
Considering the present image of the monastery, Naegoe Basarab's foundation still keeps its past splendour and greatness, being an evidence of the creative spirit of the roumanian nation over the centuries.
Duma Laura, IX F1
