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Obj. ID: 1639
Jewish Architecture
  Grain Merchants' Synagogue in Bacău - Interior

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 2009

According to the information in the pinkas of the synagogue, the prayer hall was completely destroyed by the fire of 1924. From 1927 to 1928 a painter from Iaşi, Mendel Grünberg (Grinberg) painted the images (for this work he was payed 101,000 Leu). His credit is also noted within two inscriptions on the walls.

The prayer hall is surrounded on three sides by the balconies of the women's section which is supported by square wooden pillars. The central part of the prayer hall is covered with a tetrahedral domical vault. The vault, walls, arches, and balconies of the women's gallery are all adorned with murals that compliment the architectural design of the hall. The murals of the vault on the eastern wall around the Torah Ark and on the walls and balconies of the women’s galleries have their own independent iconographical programs.

The decoration of vault of the synagogue contains a multi-level composition. The central part of the vault is decorated with a sky and stars motif, including both the moon and the sun. In the center of the vault is a single-headed heraldic eagle is painted. It keeps a military standard with the verse "As an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young" (Deut. 32:11), and a white Magen David. In the lower part of the vault two belts containing paintings of the Zodiac signs and illustrative biblical scenes. Zodiac signs are located in the upper belt and are framed by ovular medallions and grouped by threes. The eight illustrative scenes are located in the lower belt and are composed by twos and framed by rich architectural ornament.

The painted wooden Torah Ark, which is set into the middle of the eastern wall. The Torah Ark is painted to look like marble. The symbols of the tribes of Israel and the Tablets of the Law are painted on opposing sides of the Torah Ark. The symbols of the tribes of Israel are placed in colorful military standard.

All the walls of the prayer hall are divided by decorative pilasters decorated with landscape scenes. A large landscape with the musical instruments, illustrating Psalm 137, is placed on the south wall, and a similar picture of the Temple in Jerusalem is depicted on the north wall.

The images of the Holy Tombs in the Land of Israel decorate the outer side of the balconies of the women's section.

For the vault decoration see:

For the decoration of the Torah Ark see;

For the wall decoration see:

For  the Women's balcony decoration see:

For women's section see:

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

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Name/Title
Grain Merchants' Synagogue in Bacău - Interior | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
1927-1928
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Romania | Moldavia | Bacău
| 29 Stefan cel Mare St.
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Iconographical Subject
Unknown |
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
|
Author of description
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Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
Carmen Echevarria | 2016
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |