Ivan Ranger
Encyclopedia
Ivan Krstitelj Ranger was a baroque
painter.
monastic order as a child. He started to paint very early and in its artistic workshops in northern Italy
and southern Germany
. Because the Paulist order paid particular attention to artistic and cultural activities within the order, he remained in Croatia
from his 20s until his death, decorating sacral interiors and producing one of the most remarkable Baroque
opuses of Central European mural
painting
.
His paintings were stylistically original compositions
. Ranger produced most of his opus in churches, chapel
s, and monasteries
, such as in the churches of Assumption of Mary
's in Remete near Zagreb
, in Lepoglava
, in St. George's in Purga
near Lepoglava, St. Helen's chapel in Šenkovec
near Čakovec
, also the church of St. Jerome in nearby hilly Štrigova
. The church of St. Jerome was the central site of the Order of Saint Paul the Hermit
until the year 1786, when the order was abolished, causing the monasteries, churches and other premises to suffer great devastation. The order's treasures, such as books and other valuables, were scattered or destroyed, its activities left to be lost in time.
Ranger's fresco
es were preserved on arched ceilings and walls over the 250 years since their creation. Ranger had enormous importance and influence upon his disciples and followers in the many works painted later. These characteristics are the illusionist painting of architecture
, the recognisable typology of saints' figures, the colourist features and the incorporation of large compositions onto the relatively small and low walls of the churches. The Paulist order
painting school of workshop continued in that way its activity in north-western Croatia long after Ranger's time.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
painter.
Career
Ranger entered the PaulistPaul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
monastic order as a child. He started to paint very early and in its artistic workshops in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Because the Paulist order paid particular attention to artistic and cultural activities within the order, he remained in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
from his 20s until his death, decorating sacral interiors and producing one of the most remarkable Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
opuses of Central European mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
His paintings were stylistically original compositions
Composition (visual arts)
In the visual arts – in particular painting, graphic design, photography and sculpture – composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art or a photograph, as distinct from the subject of a work...
. Ranger produced most of his opus in churches, chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
s, and monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, such as in the churches of Assumption of Mary
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
's in Remete near Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, in Lepoglava
Lepoglava
Lepoglava is a town in Varaždin County, northern Croatia, located southwest of Varaždin, west of Ivanec and northeast of Krapina.A total of 8,271 people in the municipality lives in the following settlements:* Bednjica, population 214...
, in St. George's in Purga
Purga
Purga is a small settlement above the left bank of the river Kolpa to the north of Adlešiči in the Črnomelj municipality in the Bela Krajina area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical...
near Lepoglava, St. Helen's chapel in Šenkovec
Šenkovec
Šenkovec is a municipality in Međimurje County, Croatia, located just outside the county seat, Čakovec.The municipality includes two villages – Šenkovec and Knezovec. In the 2001 census, the two villages were populated by a total of 2,770 people, most of whom are Croats...
near Čakovec
Cakovec
Čakovec is a city in northern Croatia, located around 90 kilometres north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, smallest and most densely populated Croatian county.-Population:...
, also the church of St. Jerome in nearby hilly Štrigova
Štrigova
Štrigova is a village and municipality in Međimurje County, in northern Croatia.-Geography and demographics:The village of Štrigova is located 19 kilometres north-west of Čakovec, the seat and largest city of Međimurje County, and approximately two kilometres south-east of the border crossing with...
. The church of St. Jerome was the central site of the Order of Saint Paul the Hermit
The Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit
The Pauline Fathers a Hungarian order of the Roman Catholic Church, are more formally known as The Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit .This name is derived from the hermit Saint Paul of Thebes , canonized in 491 by Pope Gelasius I...
until the year 1786, when the order was abolished, causing the monasteries, churches and other premises to suffer great devastation. The order's treasures, such as books and other valuables, were scattered or destroyed, its activities left to be lost in time.
Ranger's fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es were preserved on arched ceilings and walls over the 250 years since their creation. Ranger had enormous importance and influence upon his disciples and followers in the many works painted later. These characteristics are the illusionist painting of architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, the recognisable typology of saints' figures, the colourist features and the incorporation of large compositions onto the relatively small and low walls of the churches. The Paulist order
Paulist Fathers
The Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle, better known as the Paulist Fathers, is a Roman Catholic religious society for men founded in New York City in 1858 by Servant of God Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker in collaboration with Fr. George Deshon, Fr. Augustine Hewit, and Fr. Francis A. Baker....
painting school of workshop continued in that way its activity in north-western Croatia long after Ranger's time.