Some time ago, I visited an exhibition that was too big to fit in one presentation; I started yesterday, and today, I have to keep my promise to continue and come to an end.

Exhibition Marie of Romania, Queen and Artist is a homage to Romania's most beloved queen. This queen loved the arts and was an artist.

As written on the wall, the exhibition continues!

The different rooms are connected by long hallways that give the impression of a labyrinth.

The next room of the exhibition presents some objects made according to the Queen's sketches and instructions. These pieces of furniture were used in Peles Castle, the royal household's mountain residence.

You must notice the darkness in the hall. Although it was a unique atmosphere, it was a bit uncomfortable because of the light.

Gilded wooden bench inspired by ancient Egyptian furniture.

In the next room is something special...

Marie of Romania's coronation cape!

Queen Marie's cape was made of lame gold thread, with silk and gold thread embroidery and colored semi-precious stone applications; it had an ermine edging all around the edge, completed on the inside with embroidered purple-cardinal silk edging, latching in a semicircle around the neck. On the oval border, a seven-part silk border with seven large heraldic motifs, with the coat of arms of the Hohenzoollern family of the Mria of Edinburg, of Moldavia, of Wallachia, of Transylvania and of Banat, embroidered in color.

Photograph of the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria as sovereigns of Greater Romania in 1922.

Back to the Queen's passion for painting and photography. The Queen photographed a lot, but I don't know if she did all the work of developing and transferring the negatives onto photographic paper, but I'm inclined to think that someone else did the hard work.

Because, right? It's good to be queen!

Instead, the queen used to draw mystical signs on photographs.

Such an exhibition, which occupies many rooms, can be tiring, and a short rest is welcome. Fortunately, the organizers thought of that and provided benches for brief rests.

Next, I will show objects used by the royal family, objects chosen by the Queen to decorate or use in royal residences.

Mail stand, another piece of furniture made after the Queen's sketches.

Drinking service: consisting of carafe, small wine glass, champagne glass, ice-cream glass, and liqueur glass.

Goblet

Laundry set: bowl, soap dish, water can, box with lid, bottle with lid.

Other objects that belonged to the Queen.

Love of photography

A passion the Queen has had since her youth and shared with her husband Prince Ferdinand.

The Queen loved to take pictures and be photographed in the natural setting of her mountain and seaside residences and the splendid homes she had designed.

The bag shown below must have something to do with the camera as it was a hundred years ago.

A photo was taken by the Queen featuring her three daughters.

Below are photos featuring the Queen. Although she has been photographed many times, she says she does not like to be photographed...

Here, in her youth, the one on the left.

Many of the photos of the Queen were made into postcards.

In Romanian folk costume, with a bouquet of wild flowers.

Also in folk costumes, on the terrace of Peles Castle.

In the garden of Balcic Castle, mourning after the king's death.

Photos from adulthood.

On July 18, 1921, the Queen confessed that "The absurd part is that, because I'm so often photographed, people imagine that I like having my picture taken, not knowing that I struggle every time before I resign myself to capitulating. But once I make up my mind, I help the photographer get a decent product as far as possible, so that all the hassle is not in vain." (Daily notes vol. III )

From this, I understood that the Queen didn't necessarily love to be photographed, but...

The historian Joachim von Kurenberg, biographer of King Charles II (son of Queen Marie), ironically noted the enthusiasm with which Queen Marie took part in photo sessions: "The Queen has a passion: to be photographed! She is aware of her beauty and feels obliged to preserve the memory of this beauty for generations to come. She will be photographed 400 times in two days, which is a physical feat because the location and costumes have to be changed constantly."

Well, even queens are human and can contradict themselves in what they say.

One of the photos of the Queen that I like. Maturity, beauty, poise, understanding, sadness, nostalgia, and so much more can be seen here.

The way to the next exhibition...

Soon, I will move on to other rooms with different exhibits.

Art Safari is an amalgam of exhibitions, styles, and artists. Eclectic!