Statue of Mihai Eminescu, Iași

In 1924, the Popular Athenaeum of the Toma Cozma Church began raising funds for a statue of poet Mihai Eminescu.

A third attempt, held in 1928 under the leadership of Mihail Sadoveanu, resulted in the selection of Czech-Romanian sculptor Ion Schmidt-Faur‘s model.

[1] The work was originally placed at the entrance to the University of Iași, where a statue of Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol now stands.

Later, Sabin Bălașa used the image on a fresco in the university lobby, identifying the poet with the hero of Luceafărul.

[2][1] Two surrounding stone benches were added at the behest of Tafrali, inspired by the Paris statue of François Coppée.