George Matei Cantacuzino

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G. M. Cantacuzino (1899–1960) is a lesser-known polymath of the 20th century, notable for his remarkable "Classical attitude," which connects Modernism to Tradition and aesthetics to ethics. Born in Vienna to aristocratic parents, he was educated in Switzerland, Bucharest, and Paris. Returning to Bucharest, he emerged as the leading figure of moderate Modernism in Romania and became the country's most prolific architectural theorist. His roles included professor of architectural history and theory, painter, curator, and the first Romanian correspondent for "L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui." He was also an honorary corresponding member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and an honorary citizen of New York. His liberal political views led to disapproval from both fascists and communists, resulting in imprisonment, social exclusion, and an untimely death. This study situates Cantacuzino’s significant life and work within architectural, cultural, economic, and political contexts, while also outlining his artistic and intellectual influences, ranging from Vitruvius to T. S. Eliot. This work marks the first monograph on a Romanian architect published by a major European house. Dan Teodorovici, an architect and curator based in Stuttgart, authored this study, having received a summa cum laude for his PhD thesis on Cantacuzino at the University of Stuttgart in 2010.