Romanian wood sculptor, painter and poet. A woodcarver in the small village of Sapanta hidden in the valley of Maramures, Patras would wander through the streets of Sapanta observing the lives of his neighbors and taking notes. When they died, his colorful hand-carved crosses told the stories of their lives, and sometimes even how they died, through interesting epitaphs or poems. At his passing he had create several hundred hand-carved and painted crosses. Over 800 blue wooden crosses are crowded into this cemetery, immortalizing the people of his village with a colorful picture and a humorous poem written in a local dialect. His apprentice carries on his work.
Romanian wood sculptor, painter and poet. A woodcarver in the small village of Sapanta hidden in the valley of Maramures, Patras would wander through the streets of Sapanta observing the lives of his neighbors and taking notes. When they died, his colorful hand-carved crosses told the stories of their lives, and sometimes even how they died, through interesting epitaphs or poems. At his passing he had create several hundred hand-carved and painted crosses. Over 800 blue wooden crosses are crowded into this cemetery, immortalizing the people of his village with a colorful picture and a humorous poem written in a local dialect. His apprentice carries on his work.
Inscription
Ever since I was a little boy
Stan Ioan Patras was my name
Listen to me, my good people
Because I will tell no lie
For as long as I lived
I never wished anyone harm,
Only good, as much as I could
No matter for whom
Oh this poor old world of mine
Living through it was so hard
Creator of the Merry Cemetery
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
