Craiova, the capital city of the Dolj County (Oltenia) holds several impressive buildings, but, among these, the one that captures the interest and admiration to a higher degree is The Art Museum, also known as The Jean Mihail Palace.

It is located in the City Center, on Calea Unirii street, just across the National Bank and a couple of minutes far from the City Hall or the County Hall.

Its construction was initiated at the end of the XIXth century by Constantin Mihail. The origins of his family and wealth are not entirely clear; all that is known precisely is that he had Macedonian origins. As one of the richest and most influential people in the country, he wanted to have a private mansion, worthy of his prestige. The construction lasted from 1899 to 1907, under the coordination of the French architect Paul Gottereau; the best materials possible were used: golden stucco, Venetian mirrors, chandeliers made of Murano glass, stairs made of Carrara marble. The palace had central heating and electricity.

It is said that, in his quest of displaying his opulence, Constantin Mihail asked for King Charles I permission to cover the roof in gold coins. The king accepted, under the condition that the coins should be placed vertically, not horizontally. Although this challenge did not exceed his potential, the owner understood the king’s subtle message and gave up the idea. It is also said that the great Romanian painter, Stefan Luchian, offered his services for painting the ceilings, but because of Mihail’s cosmopolitan vision, he was refused.

Unfortunately, Constantin Mihail did not get to see his work completed. In 1907, he contracted an illness that, eventually, caused his death in 1908. The palace was inaugurated several months later by his sons, Nicolae and Jean. A sculpture of Constantin Mihail can be seen today inside the palace, at the top of the main stairs.
The older son, Nicolae (1873-1918) resembled his father, led a short, luxurious life in France and spent his fortune in the Monte Carlo casinos.

The younger son, Jean (1875 – 1936) was a completely different person. Some of his contemporaries didn’t hesitate to call his a cheap stake – of all the palace’s numerous rooms, he only used one, which he didn’t heat very often. By inheriting the fortune of two relatives, Elena Dumba and Maria Colloni, he became one of the richest persons in the country (if not the richest). During the economical crisis from 1929 – 1933, Jean Mihail was the guarantor for many of the loans Romania contracted abroad. At his death, as he had no heirs, he left his immense fortune to the state, demanding that a foundation bearing his name would be established, with the objectives of raising schools, village libraries, maternity institutions and dowry funds for poor girls.

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