About this lot

Description

Head of Marko Kraljevic ink on brown paper dated '15/11/1910' (lower left); signed 'IMeštrović' (lower right); further signed by Marina Mestrovic to the reverse 7.5 x 9cm

Footnote: Arguably the most prominent Croatian sculptor of the modern era, Ivan Meštrović is also remembered as a writer, architect, and paladin of national legend. The present lot, an ink drawing of the head of Marko Kraljevic, appears to be a study for his five-metre-high bronze depicting Kraljevic upon his horse, Šarac, which was presented at the Serbian Art Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Rome in 1911. In 1933, a second, much smaller, version on horseback was commissioned for the Serbian Royal family. The head of Kraljevic as depicted by Meštrović was also reproduced for use on Yugoslavian stamps and banknotes. Gazing past the viewer, determined and dignified, the subject of the drawing, Marko Kraljevic, was the Serbian King from 1371 until 1395, and was said to have protected the Macedonians, Serbians, and Bulgarians from the invading Turks during the Ottoman occupation. Immortalised throughout Balkan folklore as a protector of the weak and advocate of justice since the 14th century, Meštrović’s robust portrait demonstrates the strength and nobility of his subject.

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