113. Ivan Mestrovic

During my stay in Split I visited the Ivan Mestrovic Museum there ( see blog #105 ) and was so impressed with the works of this great 20th century sculpture, that a visit to the Mestrovic Museum here in Zagreb was definitely on the list of must sees ... So here it is ...

Street entrance to Museum ...

Having completed his studies in Vienna and after living in Paris, Rome, Cannes and London, Ivan Mestrovic returned to his homeland Croatia in 1919 as an acclaimed and successful artist. In 1920, he bought three ajoining houses dating from the late 17th century in the historic Upper Town centre of Zagreb. 

The Evangelist John - bronze - 1929 

After much renovations and buildings alterations, the site became a home and workspace and studio to Ivan, his second wife Olga and their children. They lived there until 1942, when Ivan left the country to live for a short time in the USA. 

In 1952, a contract of donation was concluded between Ivan Mestrovic and the government of the People's Republic of Croatia, which included the property complex of residential building, atrium, studio, and yard in Mestrovic's legacy, thus making it legal property of the People's Republic of Croatia. 

  Prince Marko on Sarac - bronze - 1910

In order to convert the complex into an exhibition space with the permanent display of donated Mestrovic's works (today called the Mestrovic Atelier), it was necessary to repair and adapt all parts of the complex and the sculptures needed to undergo the conservation program. The Mestrovic Atelier, ie the permanent exhibition of Ivan Mestrovic's works, was  opened to the public in the 1969.

 Woman Beside the Sea - marble - 1926

 Moses - stone - 1912

 Study for the Hand of Gregory of Nin - bronze - 1927

( ... Split Blog # ... )

 Self-portrait - bronze - 1930

Stallion - bronze - 1912

Marija Banac - bronze - 1915

 Young Man Thinking - bronze - 1915

 Small study for Cyclops - bronze - 1928

 Portrait of Vera Cuca Milcinovic - bronze - 1906

 Warrior - bronze - 1911

Olga Mestrovic Feeding Tvrtko - bronze - 1925

 Group of Portraits - marble - 1930 

detail ... Ivan Mestrovic - marble - 1930

 Pieta - bronze - 1932

 Mother Teaching Child to Pray - bronze - 1925

 Woman Sitting on her Heels - bronze - 1915

 Marij Banac - bronze - 1915

Madonna and Jesus - bronze - 1918

 Study for Ruder Boskovic - bronze - 1939

Study for Strossmeyer - bronze - 1924

 Dancer - marble - 1911

 Waiting - marble - 1928

 Female Torso with Arms - marble - 1928

 Mother Thinking - marble - 1930

 Resting - marble - 1933

Amor and Psyche - marble - 1918

It was quite a joy to make another connection with this great artist and to see more of his  beautiful works  - and of course to wander through his city house imagining his life as it must have been there ...