Zlatko Šulentić
Encyclopedia
Zlatko Šulentić was a Croatian painter
of landscapes and portraits.
He was one of the second generation of Croatian modern painters, a follower of the Munich Circle painters. He also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
, and began to develop his own version of expressionism
and cubism
in Croatia, with refined colour harmonies. In his later work Šulentić painted religious motifs, landscapes and city views, but he remained foremost a portrait painter. He taught drawing in school and at the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb. He travelled extensively, and published a book "People, Places, Infinity" (Ljudi, krajevi, beskraj).
(1911–1914). While still a student, in 1913 he visited Paris.
Šulentić exhibited for the first time at the inaugural Zagreb Spring Salon of 1916, when he was one of the organizers. During the period 1921-1927 he exhibited with the Independent Group of Artists (Grupa nezavisnih umjetnika) whose other members were Ljubo Babić
, Vladimir Becić
, Jozo Kljaković, Frano Kršinić
, Ivan Meštrović
, Jerolim Miše
, Marin Studin and Vladimir Varlaj. He also held solo exhibits in Gallery Ulrich in 1921, 1927, and 1941.
From an early age, he travelled extensively, initially in the company of his father, a physician. He travelled within Croatia: around Glina and Karlovac, Zagreb, Japetić, Plešivica and the Adriatic coast, and later Šulentić would visit most European countries, across North Africa, North America, South America, Burma, Indonesia, Malasia and Egypt. Impressions from these trips were recorded in sketches and watercolors, with a series of notes which were later published in his book "People, Places, Infinity" (1971).
Šulentić taught life drawing in school, and later became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb. In 1947, due to the politics of the time, his position at the Academy was terminated. At the age of 54, he found himself retired on a small pension at a time when there was limited opportunity to exhibit and earn a living from art. Šulentić devoted his time to painting, and in 1953 resumed his travels. By 1959, he began to receive recognition for his work in major Croatian exhibitions. In 1961 he was decorated with the Order of the Republic. The Rijeka Museum of Modern Art held an exhibition marking his 70th anniversary, and other galleries followed: Zorin Dom, Karlovac, Strossmayer Galleries in Zagreb, Art Salon in Osijek, Gallery of Fine Arts in Split, and Matica hrvatska.
From 1964-1968 Šulentić worked for the Franciscan monastery at Ksaver in Zagreb.
His picture of the "Sermon on the Mount" (Propovijedi na gori) includes his last self-portrait.
In 1969 he received the Vladimir Nazor Award
for lifetime achievement in the visual arts.
Zlatko Šulentić died in Zagreb on 9 July 1971.
and the modern art
movement. Public appreciation of his own paintings dates from 1916, the first Spring Salon in Zagreb. His pictures featured the lively colour and expressionism
so often present in his later work. He strove for spiritual content in his painting, saying that he wanted to know what was behind the reality.
Throughout his artistic career, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and religious compositions bore his personal artistic signature of graded tones and colours with free line-work. This was evident in his gouaches, watercolors, oils, and drawings. In 1930 on a trip to Paris, he painted one of his best pictures "Place de Tertre", using a limited colour palette, and creating a modern sense of space.
In the 1950s and 1960s he painted his summer travel series (Zadar, Vrbnik, Kvarner, Šipan). The use of expressive colour tending towards abstractionism
put him among the ranks of the best contemporary Croatian artists.
Šulentić was an important figure of the second generation of Croatian Modernism, the creator of a series of iconic works in his own signature style. He was also a contemporary artist. At the end of the sixties he was a master of expressive colour and portrayed in-depth content in human, painterly gestures.
A major retrospective of his work was held at the Modern Gallery, Zagreb
in 1972.
In 1993, on the centenary of his birth, Croatian Post issued a stamp featuring his self-portrait of 1929.
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...
of landscapes and portraits.
He was one of the second generation of Croatian modern painters, a follower of the Munich Circle painters. He also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, and began to develop his own version of expressionism
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
and cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
in Croatia, with refined colour harmonies. In his later work Šulentić painted religious motifs, landscapes and city views, but he remained foremost a portrait painter. He taught drawing in school and at the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb. He travelled extensively, and published a book "People, Places, Infinity" (Ljudi, krajevi, beskraj).
Biography
Zlatko Šulentić was born 16 March 1893 in Glina. When he was three years old, his mother died. In later years he would tell his wife that she lived in his memory "like a shadow sitting with him on the couch." He attended high-school at Karlovac, then in 1910 took classes given by Robert Auer at the Provisional School for Arts and Crafts in Zagreb. His training continued in Munich, firstly private lessons with Heinrich Knirr, then at the Academy of Fine Arts, MunichAcademy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
(1911–1914). While still a student, in 1913 he visited Paris.
Šulentić exhibited for the first time at the inaugural Zagreb Spring Salon of 1916, when he was one of the organizers. During the period 1921-1927 he exhibited with the Independent Group of Artists (Grupa nezavisnih umjetnika) whose other members were Ljubo Babić
Ljubo Babić
Ljubo Babić , was a Croatian painter, graphic artist, theatrical set and costume designer, teacher, art historian, critic, and museum curator. As an artist, he worked in a variety of media including oils, tempera, watercolour, drawing, etching, and lithography...
, Vladimir Becić
Vladimir Becić
Vladimir Becić was a Croatian painter, best known for his early work in Munich, which had a strong influence on the direction of modern art in Croatia...
, Jozo Kljaković, Frano Kršinić
Frano Kršinić
Frano Kršinić was a renowned Croatian sculptor. Along with Ivan Meštrović and Antun Augustinčić he is considered one of the three most important Croatian sculptors of the 20th century...
, Ivan Meštrović
Ivan Meštrovic
Ivan Meštrović was a Croatian and Yugoslav sculptor and architect born in Vrpolje, Croatia...
, Jerolim Miše
Jerolim Miše
Jerolim Miše , was a Croatian painter, teacher, and art critic. He painted portraits, still lifes and landscapes of his native Dalmatia. A member of the Group of Three, Group of Four, and the Independent Group of Artists....
, Marin Studin and Vladimir Varlaj. He also held solo exhibits in Gallery Ulrich in 1921, 1927, and 1941.
From an early age, he travelled extensively, initially in the company of his father, a physician. He travelled within Croatia: around Glina and Karlovac, Zagreb, Japetić, Plešivica and the Adriatic coast, and later Šulentić would visit most European countries, across North Africa, North America, South America, Burma, Indonesia, Malasia and Egypt. Impressions from these trips were recorded in sketches and watercolors, with a series of notes which were later published in his book "People, Places, Infinity" (1971).
Šulentić taught life drawing in school, and later became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb. In 1947, due to the politics of the time, his position at the Academy was terminated. At the age of 54, he found himself retired on a small pension at a time when there was limited opportunity to exhibit and earn a living from art. Šulentić devoted his time to painting, and in 1953 resumed his travels. By 1959, he began to receive recognition for his work in major Croatian exhibitions. In 1961 he was decorated with the Order of the Republic. The Rijeka Museum of Modern Art held an exhibition marking his 70th anniversary, and other galleries followed: Zorin Dom, Karlovac, Strossmayer Galleries in Zagreb, Art Salon in Osijek, Gallery of Fine Arts in Split, and Matica hrvatska.
From 1964-1968 Šulentić worked for the Franciscan monastery at Ksaver in Zagreb.
His picture of the "Sermon on the Mount" (Propovijedi na gori) includes his last self-portrait.
In 1969 he received the Vladimir Nazor Award
Vladimir Nazor award
The Vladimir Nazor Award is an annual award given by the Croatian Ministry of Culture to Croatian artists for highest achievements in various artistic fields. It was established in 1959 and is named after the notable writer Vladimir Nazor...
for lifetime achievement in the visual arts.
Zlatko Šulentić died in Zagreb on 9 July 1971.
Legacy
Šulentić is one of the best-known Croatian expressionists. A crucial early influence was the paintings of Miroslav KraljevićMiroslav Kraljevic
Miroslav Kraljević was a Croatian painter, printmaker and sculptor, active in the early part of the 20th century. He is one of the founders of modern art in Croatia....
and the modern art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
movement. Public appreciation of his own paintings dates from 1916, the first Spring Salon in Zagreb. His pictures featured the lively colour and expressionism
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
so often present in his later work. He strove for spiritual content in his painting, saying that he wanted to know what was behind the reality.
Throughout his artistic career, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and religious compositions bore his personal artistic signature of graded tones and colours with free line-work. This was evident in his gouaches, watercolors, oils, and drawings. In 1930 on a trip to Paris, he painted one of his best pictures "Place de Tertre", using a limited colour palette, and creating a modern sense of space.
In the 1950s and 1960s he painted his summer travel series (Zadar, Vrbnik, Kvarner, Šipan). The use of expressive colour tending towards abstractionism
Abstractionism
See also Abstract artAbstractionism is the theory that the mind obtains some or all of its concepts by abstracting them from concepts it already has, or from experience. One may, for example, abstract 'green' from a set of experiences which involve green along with other properties...
put him among the ranks of the best contemporary Croatian artists.
Šulentić was an important figure of the second generation of Croatian Modernism, the creator of a series of iconic works in his own signature style. He was also a contemporary artist. At the end of the sixties he was a master of expressive colour and portrayed in-depth content in human, painterly gestures.
A major retrospective of his work was held at the Modern Gallery, Zagreb
Modern Gallery, Zagreb
Modern 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...
in 1972.
In 1993, on the centenary of his birth, Croatian Post issued a stamp featuring his self-portrait of 1929.
Works
His paintings include- Late Autumn (Kasna Jesen) , 1913
- Autoportret , 1915
- Iz Maksimira , 1915
- Man with a Red Beard (Čovjek s crvenom bradom), 1916
- Portret dr Stjepana Pelca , 1917
- Primorska Street (Primorska ulica), 1918
- Tunis, 1920
- My Father (Moj otac), 1925
- Portret arh. Pičmana , 1926
- Self-Portrait (Autoportret), 1929
- Place du Tertre, 1930
- Banka, 1932
- Girl with Hat (Djevojčica sa šeširom), 1934
- S. Giovanni i Paolo,Venecija, 1935
- Sambor Landscape (Samoborski kraj), 1938
- Podne, 1939
- Portret Andreje Wendler-Vojta, 1946
- Vrbnik, 1947
- Sv. Donat, 1949
- Behind the Theatre I(Iza kazališta I), 1952
- Fontana di Trevi, 1957
- Anthony (Ante), 1958
- View from đipan (Pogled sa đipana), 1962
- Đipan Fields (Đipansko polje), 1962
- Self-portrait (Autoportret), 1963
- Sto stuba, 1964
- Plješivički vinogradi II, 1966
- Staru svjetiljku, 1966
- Đipanski bor, 1967
- Ampirsku uru, 1968
- Silba, 1968
- Napuštena barka, 1969
- Dijete, 1970
- Raspeće, 1971
Exhibitions
During his lifetime, Šulentić exhibited his work in solo and group shows, most notably in the Zagreb Spring Salon from 1916, and with the Independent Group of Artists in the 1920s.Solo Exhibitions
Recent exhibitions of his work include:- 2011 Retrospective Exhibition, Art Pavilion, Zagreb
- 2010 Drawings of Zlatko Šulentić, Galerija Ulrich, Zagreb
- 2006 Zlatko Šulentić: Indirect Portrait, Adris Gallery, Rovinj
- 1969 Strossmeyer Gallery, Zagreb
Public Collections
His work can be found in the following public collections- Museum of Contemporary Art, ZagrebMuseum of Contemporary Art, ZagrebThe Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
, Croatia - 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...
, Croatia - Strossmayer Gallery of Old MastersThe Strossmayer Gallery of Old MastersThe Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters is a fine art museum in Zagreb, Croatia exhibiting the collection donated to the city by Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer in 1884...
, Zagreb - Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade, Serbia
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje, Macedonia