Ivo Kerdić
Encyclopedia
Ivo Kerdić was a Croatian sculptor, best known for his metalwork and medallions.
, at that time in Austria-Hungary
, now Croatia
. The son of a wood merchant, he spent 4 years in elementary school, before going to Zagreb to learn the trade of locksmith in the school for artisans. In 1900, he went to Paris, where he worked during the day, and studied applied art in the evenings, learning engraving. He returned home on the death of his father, one year later. Not having the funds to resume his studies in Paris, in 1902 Kerdić went to Vienna, where he worked at the Gillar Bronze Factory, rising to foreman.
Kerdić returned to Zagreb in 1913, where he took up a position as lecturer at the College of Arts and Crafts. He pioneered bronze casting
at the Academy of Fine Arts where he taught metalworking
from 1923 to 1947.
Ivo Kerdić died in Zagreb 27 October 1953.
Although he used all kinds of different media in his sculpture, Kerdić is best known for his metalwork. he worked primarily as a medallist and is considered one of the leading exponents of his time. Kerdić created the chain of office for the Rector of Zagreb University, and the chain for the Grand Master of the Bretheren of the Christian Dragon. He was responsible for creating medals for the Independent State of Croatia, such as the Crown of King Zvonimir medal, and the Ante Pavelic medal for outstanding bravery.
Examples of Ivo Kerdić's medals and medallions can be seen in the Numismatic collection of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, which consists of about 160 works of the artist, dating from 1911 onwards.
The Modern Gallery in Zagreb has a larger collection of Kerdić's works: a total of 625 original works including medals, plaques, badges, award medals, coins and sculptures dating between 1905 to 1953. His work contains a glimpse of Zagreb and Croatian public life of the time, with its famous personalities and political themes.
Biography
Ivo Kerdić was born 19 May 1881 in Davor, a small village near Slavonski BrodSlavonski Brod
Slavonski Brod is a city in Croatia, with a population of 59,507 in 2011. The city was known as Marsonia in the Roman Empire, and as Brod na Savi 1244–1934. It is the sixth largest city in Croatia, after Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and Zadar. Located in the region of Slavonia, it is the...
, at that time in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, now 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 ...
. The son of a wood merchant, he spent 4 years in elementary school, before going to Zagreb to learn the trade of locksmith in the school for artisans. In 1900, he went to Paris, where he worked during the day, and studied applied art in the evenings, learning engraving. He returned home on the death of his father, one year later. Not having the funds to resume his studies in Paris, in 1902 Kerdić went to Vienna, where he worked at the Gillar Bronze Factory, rising to foreman.
Kerdić returned to Zagreb in 1913, where he took up a position as lecturer at the College of Arts and Crafts. He pioneered bronze casting
Bronze sculpture
Bronze is the most popular metal for cast metal sculptures; a cast bronze sculpture is often called simply a "bronze".Common bronze alloys have the unusual and desirable property of expanding slightly just before they set, thus filling the finest details of a mold. Then, as the bronze cools, it...
at the Academy of Fine Arts where he taught metalworking
Metalworking
Metalworking is the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large scale structures. The term covers a wide range of work from large ships and bridges to precise engine parts and delicate jewelry. It therefore includes a correspondingly wide range of skills,...
from 1923 to 1947.
Ivo Kerdić died in Zagreb 27 October 1953.
Legacy
Kerdić's work included items of applied art, portraits and figurative compositions. Examples of his sculptures can be seen in the main and side altar of the church of St Blaze in Zagreb, the altar of St Nicolas Tavelica in the church of St Cyril and Methodius in Jerusalem. In the Zagreb area, on the Miramarska road is a crucifix by Kerdic.Although he used all kinds of different media in his sculpture, Kerdić is best known for his metalwork. he worked primarily as a medallist and is considered one of the leading exponents of his time. Kerdić created the chain of office for the Rector of Zagreb University, and the chain for the Grand Master of the Bretheren of the Christian Dragon. He was responsible for creating medals for the Independent State of Croatia, such as the Crown of King Zvonimir medal, and the Ante Pavelic medal for outstanding bravery.
Examples of Ivo Kerdić's medals and medallions can be seen in the Numismatic collection of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, which consists of about 160 works of the artist, dating from 1911 onwards.
The Modern Gallery in Zagreb has a larger collection of Kerdić's works: a total of 625 original works including medals, plaques, badges, award medals, coins and sculptures dating between 1905 to 1953. His work contains a glimpse of Zagreb and Croatian public life of the time, with its famous personalities and political themes.
Solo Exhibitions
Recent exhibitions of his work include:- 2011 Ivo Kerdić - Celebrating the 130th anniversary since the birth of the sculptor, Modern Gallery, ZagrebModern Gallery, ZagrebModern Gallery is a museum in Zagreb, Croatia that holds the most important and comprehensive collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings by 19th and 20th century Croatian artists. The collection numbers around 10,000 works of art, housed since 1934 in the historic Vranyczany Palace in the...
- 2004 Ivo Kerdic works from the permanent collection, Archeological Museum of Zagreb
Group Exhibitions
- 1931 Belfast Museum and Art Gallery Exhibition of Yugoslav Paintings and Sculpture
- 1930 Exhibition of Yugoslav Pictures and Sculpture (Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea), 1930
Public Collections
His work can be found in the following public collections- Archeological Museum of Zagreb, Croatia
- Modern Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsCroatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
, Glyptoteque Sculpture Museum - Croatian History Museum