Pârvu Mutu

Pârvu Mutul or Mutu (Pârvu the Mute, nickname of Pârvu Pârvescu; 1657-1735) was a Wallachian Romanian muralist and church painter.


In the mural painting of churches and monasteries at the end of XVIIth century and the beginning of the XVIIIth century, Pârvu Mutul left irrefutable evidences of a great artistic value.


He was born in the town of Câmpulung as the sixth son of the Orthodox priest Ioan Pârvescu, and began his career as a church painter at the age of 12. At six years after the birth, Pârvu loses his mother. His father takes Pârvu, the only remaining son of six children and went to Negru Vodă Monastery in the city, where the child's talent was noticed by the monks. Pârvu's first teacher was Father Evgheni, who taught him the fresco technique. His godfather, Tudoran Vlădescu, a Wallachian nobleman, sent him to complete of his studies in Bucovina to a famous Russian painter, where he remained for six years. He returned to Câmpulung around 1677, with new painting knowledge, but also with the nickname "Pârvu Mutu Zugravu", name that will pass into history. He lived around 40 years in Moldavia, returning to Wallachia in 1702. In 1718 he went to the Mărgineni Monastery, the place where he died.


Pârvu Mutul painted in fresco style the interiors of many churches, and most of his works were commissioned by the Cantacuzino family (a renowned noblemen family, descending from the emperors of Byzantium). He is mostly remembered for his achievements in portraits — his frescoes of church founders.