Oton Ivekovic
Encyclopedia
Oton Iveković was one of the foremost Croatia
n painter
s. He graduated from the Vienna Academy of Painting. He later taught at the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts. Iveković largely concerned himself with historical topics as well as some religious themes. Many of his paintings remain the chief symbols of Croatian history
.
Oton Iveković was born on 17 April 1869 in Klanjec, where he finished elementary school. He attended high school for three and a half years in Zagreb, where except for history and drawing, he neglected other subjects. In 1886, when his brother Cyril went to school in Vienna, Oton decided to enter the painting school, but his family did not have enough money for it. Oton however, remained steadfast and stubborn in his plans, and earned enough money through the autumn and winter to go to Vienna in the spring.
When he arrived in Vienna he took a summer semester as a guest student. In mid-1888 Oton became a regular student. Until 1890. he studied with prof. Griepenkerla, and then joined his specialization in historic painting with professor Trenkwalda. At the request of his teacher he was removed from the summer semester because of frequent arguments with professors at the Academy due to his insistence on painting the composition on the Zrinski - Frankopan. The next year he resumed his specialization in historical painting, this time with prof. Eisenmenger. Later, Oton received a scholarship from the Academy and the Provincial Government in Zagreb. At the urging of Izidor Kršnjavi and with his financial support, Iveković continued his studies at the Munich Academy. Encouraging Oton's historical painting, Kršnjavi recommended Iveković to his friend, professor Keller at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe.
After completing his specialization, Iveković returned to Croatia where he was immediately appointed professor of painting in a realistic high school. The following year he was a teacher at the School of Crafts, which granted him the satisfaction of basic living expenses. Iveković's prolific period lasted from 1894 to 1900. In that period he worked on various projects, most notable were: the Jesuit church of Sv. Cyril and Methodius University in Sarajevo, the Medović vault, and the Baroque church of Sv. Theresa in Pozega. Intensive activity did not stop even after 1900. At the beginning of the new century, his exhibitions were part of the World Exhibition in Paris.
In 1901,Iveković along with Medović worked on the illustrations for the famous novel "Judith" by Marko Marulić. In addition Iveković illustrated Šenoa's book Zlatarevo zlato, and in those years very actively participates in Croatian Matica as a member and as a graphic designer. In 1903 he painted the founders of Matica on the big picture which is still located beside the premises Croatian Matica in Zagreb. He was active in theater as a costume and set designer. In 1904 he was very intensely involved in the creation of the artistic association Lada.
In 1908 The School of Crafts transformed into an art academy, where Iveković taught drawing and painting until his retirement in 1927. In 1910 he went to America to work on a newly-constructed church, where he painted ceilings and walls with fifteen various scenes. Upon completion of the job, he travelled through the American West, recording scenes from the life of cowboys and Indians. Review was published in the travelogue from 1911. In that same year he withdrew from the Croatian People's Peasant Party where he was one of the founding members.
After the outbreak of the first World War Iveković was trying to get to the front as a war correspondent. The period from June 1915 to September 1918 he spent on the battlefields in Sochi, in Galicia and Serbia, marking the scene of military life.
After the war, he sold the house in Jurjevska street in Zagreb and bought the castle of Veliki Tabor. The castle was in very poor condition and he needed to hire several master craftsmen to do the repair work. The Iveković family lived in Veliki Tabor until 1935. The castle was sold in 1938. Oton spent the last year of his life with his brother Albin in Klanjec.
Oton Iveković died on 4 July 1939 in Klanjec.
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 ...
n painter
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...
s. He graduated from the Vienna Academy of Painting. He later taught at the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts. Iveković largely concerned himself with historical topics as well as some religious themes. Many of his paintings remain the chief symbols of Croatian history
History of Croatia
Croatia first appeared as a duchy in the 7th century and then as a kingdom in the 10th century. From the 12th century it remained a distinct state with its ruler and parliament, but it obeyed the kings and emperors of various neighboring powers, primarily Hungary and Austria. The period from the...
.
Oton Iveković was born on 17 April 1869 in Klanjec, where he finished elementary school. He attended high school for three and a half years in Zagreb, where except for history and drawing, he neglected other subjects. In 1886, when his brother Cyril went to school in Vienna, Oton decided to enter the painting school, but his family did not have enough money for it. Oton however, remained steadfast and stubborn in his plans, and earned enough money through the autumn and winter to go to Vienna in the spring.
When he arrived in Vienna he took a summer semester as a guest student. In mid-1888 Oton became a regular student. Until 1890. he studied with prof. Griepenkerla, and then joined his specialization in historic painting with professor Trenkwalda. At the request of his teacher he was removed from the summer semester because of frequent arguments with professors at the Academy due to his insistence on painting the composition on the Zrinski - Frankopan. The next year he resumed his specialization in historical painting, this time with prof. Eisenmenger. Later, Oton received a scholarship from the Academy and the Provincial Government in Zagreb. At the urging of Izidor Kršnjavi and with his financial support, Iveković continued his studies at the Munich Academy. Encouraging Oton's historical painting, Kršnjavi recommended Iveković to his friend, professor Keller at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe.
After completing his specialization, Iveković returned to Croatia where he was immediately appointed professor of painting in a realistic high school. The following year he was a teacher at the School of Crafts, which granted him the satisfaction of basic living expenses. Iveković's prolific period lasted from 1894 to 1900. In that period he worked on various projects, most notable were: the Jesuit church of Sv. Cyril and Methodius University in Sarajevo, the Medović vault, and the Baroque church of Sv. Theresa in Pozega. Intensive activity did not stop even after 1900. At the beginning of the new century, his exhibitions were part of the World Exhibition in Paris.
In 1901,Iveković along with Medović worked on the illustrations for the famous novel "Judith" by Marko Marulić. In addition Iveković illustrated Šenoa's book Zlatarevo zlato, and in those years very actively participates in Croatian Matica as a member and as a graphic designer. In 1903 he painted the founders of Matica on the big picture which is still located beside the premises Croatian Matica in Zagreb. He was active in theater as a costume and set designer. In 1904 he was very intensely involved in the creation of the artistic association Lada.
In 1908 The School of Crafts transformed into an art academy, where Iveković taught drawing and painting until his retirement in 1927. In 1910 he went to America to work on a newly-constructed church, where he painted ceilings and walls with fifteen various scenes. Upon completion of the job, he travelled through the American West, recording scenes from the life of cowboys and Indians. Review was published in the travelogue from 1911. In that same year he withdrew from the Croatian People's Peasant Party where he was one of the founding members.
After the outbreak of the first World War Iveković was trying to get to the front as a war correspondent. The period from June 1915 to September 1918 he spent on the battlefields in Sochi, in Galicia and Serbia, marking the scene of military life.
After the war, he sold the house in Jurjevska street in Zagreb and bought the castle of Veliki Tabor. The castle was in very poor condition and he needed to hire several master craftsmen to do the repair work. The Iveković family lived in Veliki Tabor until 1935. The castle was sold in 1938. Oton spent the last year of his life with his brother Albin in Klanjec.
Oton Iveković died on 4 July 1939 in Klanjec.