Eliza Stănescu (Seceleanu) House

ELIZA STĂNESCU (SECELEANU) HOUSE Constantin Brâncuşi was hosted here, from 26th May to 17th July 1914 when he came to Buzău and carved in Măgura stone the two plinths for the works he made in Paris in 1910, „Prayer” and „Bust of Lawyer Petre Stănescu”, husband of Eliza Stănescu (Seceleanu). At the beginning of the last century, Eliza Seceleanu, the daughter of the great merchant from Buzau, and landlord Nicolae Seceleanu, fell in love with lawyer Petre Stănescu, a young man with great perspective, but without wealth. When her father refused to give his consent for the marriage, Eliza threatened to become a monk and managed to get him to obey. Shortly after the marriage, the young lawyer (31 years old) died. In memory of her husband, Eliza wanted to erect a special monument to him. Initially, she commissioned the sculptor Frederic Storck, but as he was very busy, he recommended the young Constantin Brâncuşi, at the moment a student of great Auguste Rodin, in Paris. The work was completed in 1910 and it was exhibited in Paris, and in 1914 it was placed by the author in Dumbrava Cemetery of Buzău.