Contributions to the Graphics of Early Romanian Books Printed in Buda (1796–1827)

Abstract This article examines six previously unstudied engravings and lithographs identified in four publications printed at the University Press of Buda between 1796 and 1827. Existing research on the graphic art of early Romanian books printed at Buda is expanded, demonstrating that the visual repertoire of this important printing centre was richer and more diverse than previously assumed. The corpus consists of an allegorical engraving from “Θησαυρὸς Γραμματικῆς” (The Treasure of Grammar), 1796, a portrait of the Banat scholar Ioan Tomici in “Cultura albinelor” (Beekeeping), 1823, and four illustrations included in the Serbian-language “Банатскій алманахъ” (Almanac of Banat), 1826–1827. Through iconographic and bibliographical analysis, the article identifies new connections between Romanian, Greek, Serbian, and Central European cultural environments. It also re-examines the place of publication of the first two issues of the Almanac of Banat, arguing that they were printed at Buda rather than Timi#oara. Special attention is paid to the role of images as vehicles of cultural, educational, historical, and identity-building messages and underscores the multicultural character of publishing activity at Buda during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.