Stavropoleos Church

General

All the elements of the facade – sculpture, stucco-work and, in particular, the frescoes – masterfully complement and blend with each other, producing an original synthesis, echoed in other churches in the capital. In the exterior decoration, experts have noted the baroque sensibility and oriental taste specific to Brâncoveanu art and, in the sculpted decoration of the porch, elements also occurring in the baroque sculpture of Transylvania. In its carving and composition, the central scene on the parapet of the porch, Samson and the lion, is an obvious testimony to baroque influence. It is a symbolic representation of the resurrected Christ’s triumph over death. The stone ornamentation of Stavropoleos recalls the loggias of the Brâncoveanu palace at Mogoºoaia, as well as the columns of the now demolished Vãcãreºti Monastery. The rich baroque decoration, painting and sculpture of the Stavropoleos ensemble served as a model not only for other churches but also for secular constructions.