An exhibition of icons on glass was opened for the first time at the National Museum of Arts in Chisinau. The organizers said these paintings are real treasures that should be seen by everyone, IPN reports.

The Museum’s director Tudor Zbarnea noted that the painting on glass was practiced almost exclusively in Transylvania, in rural and urban centers, and this practice contributed to the appearance of the most distinctive genre of the Romanian people’s art – the icon on glass. Last year, Romanian plastic artist Sever Sasarman, who settled in Switzerland, gave 20 icons on glass made at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20h century to the National Museum of Arts of Moldova as a present. When they arrived in Chisinau, the icons were restored.

One of the restorers Gheorghe Carajii said that he had worked on the 20 icons for almost a year. “It was very hard at the beginning. Each icon had its own faults. But it was hard until I saw the fist icon restored,” he stated.

Attending the opening of the exhibit, the director of the Romanian Cultural Institute “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau Valeriu Matei said the icon on glass is something unique. Such icons are painted only in the Romanian area. They are inestimable. “They painted the opposite side of the glass. These skilful masters showed great knowledge of organization,” said the writer.

The exhibit will be open until January 11, 2015. It is housed by the Museum’s first-floor gallery.