Paja Jovanović#Selected works

{{Infobox artist

| name = Paja Jovanović

| native_name = {{nobold|Паја Јовановић}}

| image = PajaJovanovic.jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| caption = Pavle "Paja" Jovanović before 1900

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1859|6|16}}

| birth_place = Vršac, Austrian Empire

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1957|11|30|1859|6|16}}

| death_place = Vienna, Republic of Austria

| nationality = Serbian

| field = Painting

| training = Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna

| movement = Realism

| works = Čas Mačevanja (Fencing) (1884)
Seoba Srba (Migration of the Serbs) (1896)
Krunisanje cara Dušana (Crowning of Stefan Dušan) (1900)

| patrons =

| influenced =

| awards =

| elected =

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20100616025708/http://www.pajajovanovic.rs/ www.pajajovanovic.rs]

}}

Pavle "Paja" Jovanović ({{lang-sr-cyr|Павле "Паја" Јовановић}}; {{IPA|sh|pâʋlɛ pǎːja jɔʋǎːnɔʋit͡ɕ|IPA}}; 16 June 1859 – 30 November 1957) was a Serbian realist painter who painted more than 1,100 works including:{{Cite web|url=http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/expert-s-corner/research-projects/history-of-art-projects/catalog-of-pavle-paja-jovanovic-artworks?lang=en|title=Catalog of Pavle Paja Jovanovic Artworks {{!}} Народни музеј|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/240720/U-potrazi-za-portretom-Rudolfa-Valentina|title=У потрази за портретом Рудолфа Валентина|last=Лијескић|first=Б.|website=Politika Online|access-date=2019-09-08}} The Wounded Montenegrin (1882), Decorating of the Bride (1886), The Takovo Uprising (1894), Migration of the Serbs (1896) and The Proclamation of Dušan's Law Codex (1900). As one of the best European painters of oriental scenes, Paja at the end of the 19th century turned to painting historical events of Serbian history. Paja was also the premier portraitist of Europe after 1905. He painted the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria 15 times. He painted royalty, major industrialists, scientists, bankers, oil barons and monopolists, including certain heirs to the Standard Oil fortune in the United States. He was a very sought-after portraitist world-wide, which made him incredibly wealthy in his lifetime. Many European and international museums carry his works, signed under various names including: Paul Joanowitch in the National Gallery of Victoria and also two portraits in the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Paul Joanowits, Paul Ivanovitch, Paul Joanovitch, Paul Joanovitsch, P. Joanowitsch and others.{{Cite conference|last1=Marić Stojanović|first1=Milica|last2=Ridolfi|first2=Stefano|date=2008|title=PAJA JOVANOVIC A PAINTER FROM SERBIA: A DATA BASE OF PIGMENTS|conference=9th International Conference on NDT of Art|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264690256}}

Biography

File:P. Jovanovic.jpg

Paja Jovanović was born in Vršac, Austrian Empire (modern-day Serbia). His father was photographer Stevan Jovanović and his mother was Ernestina née Deot, of French descent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.muzejvrsac.org.rs/Page.aspx?Page=Stalne-SecanjeNaPaju&lang=sr|title=Gradski Muzej Vršac|website=www.muzejvrsac.org.rs|access-date=2019-09-26}} He spent his childhood and early youth in this home town, where he saw the iconostasis of Pavel Đurković and Arsenije Teodorović in the town churches,{{Cite web|url=http://www.medias.rs/paja-jovanovic-slikar-srpske-istorije|title=Paja Jovanović, slikar srpske istorije|website=ΜΕΔΙΑΣ - In Medias Res|language=sh-RS|access-date=2019-09-26}} which would influence his future works.

So Paja Jovanović started drawing himself, at first in secret, copying church pictures and spending hours in the empty church that he considered his first teacher. However, at the time when the ecclesiastical municipality in Vršac decided to order new bells for the Cathedral and when it was necessary to create drawings of saints, it became known about his talent. Thus, already at the age of fourteen, Jovanović received his first commission, and, thanks to significant praise, a kind of pass to Vienna and the opportunity to enroll in the Academy.

Jovanović's mother died at a young age and his father went on to remarry. He received his first art lectures and knowledge from his teacher Vodecki.{{Cite web|url=https://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:279474-Ceo-zivot-igra|title=Ceo život igra|website=www.novosti.rs|language=sr-Latn|access-date=2019-12-12}} His father took him to Vienna in 1875 when he was 15, where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in 1877 in the class of professor Christian Griepenkerl.{{Cite web|url=https://patriot.rs/paja-jovanovic-slikar-srpske-istorije/|title=Paja Jovanović – slikar srpske istorije|last=PATriot|date=2016-11-08|website=Patriot|language=sr-RS|access-date=2019-12-12}} He finished the Academy in 1880, attending several important courses taught by Leopold Carl Müller, known as an "orientalist". There is no doubt that Miller's crucial lessons determined his painting preference. Noting the increased interest of Europe to the events in the Balkans, he travelled during the holidays to Albania, Montenegro, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia gathering sketches and studies of the life of the Balkan peoples. Precisely these themes brought Paja Jovanović worldwide fame and popularity.{{cite web|publisher=Galerija Matice srpske|title=ОРИЈЕНТАЛИЗАМ|url=http://www.galerijamaticesrpske.rs/orijentalizam.html}} In the following period, having noticed the greater interest of Europe for the Balkans, he painted mostly scenes from the life of the Serbs, Montenegrins, Herzogivinans, Aromanians and Albanians, which brought him a great reputation. Encouraged to visit the Balkan region during his hiatus, he studied the customs and folklore of the people,{{Cite web|url=https://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:279475-Lekcije-iz-antike|title=Lekcije iz antike|website=www.novosti.rs|language=sr-Latn|access-date=2019-12-12}} and in 1882 he was awarded the prize of the Academy and was given the Imperial scholarship for the composition The Wounded Montenegrin.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

The public and many art critics directed their attention to the young painter, and in 1883 he signed a contract with the "French" gallery in London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:279477-Sreca-u-Londonu|title=Sreća u Londonu|website=www.novosti.rs|language=sr-Latn|access-date=2019-12-12}} He continued his travelling through Caucasus,{{Cite journal|last=Popović|first=Radovan|date=2014|title=The analysis of formal compositional characteristics of orientalist paintings by Paja Jovanović|url=http://scindeks.ceon.rs/Article.aspx?artid=2334-86661402027P|journal=Zbornik Radova Akademije Umetnosti|issue=2|pages=27–44|doi=10.5937/ZbAkUm1402027P|issn=2334-8666|doi-access=free}} Morocco, Egypt,{{cite book |last1=Todorović |first1=Miloš |title=Serbian–Egyptian Intercultural Relations |date=2021 |publisher=Alia Mundi |location=Belgrade |isbn=978-86-81396-12-4 |page=159 |url=https://www.academia.edu/49589125 |access-date=9 July 2021}} Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Spain.{{Cite web|url=http://draganlekovic.me/2018/06/paja-jovanovic-biografija/|title=Paja Jovanović - Biografija|date=2018-06-16|website=ART mozaik|language=bs-BA|access-date=2019-09-26}} A great number of sketches, notes, and studies, along with the collected objects from the life of the common people, will find their place in his famous genre-compositions, such as: Fencing, Decorating of the Bride, and Cockfighting. Some of Jovanović's most remarkable praises were gathered at two of his greatest exhibitions: Millennium exhibition in Budapest in 1896, where he prepared Migration of the Serbs for entry, but the Vršac triptych was sent instead, and the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, for which he had painted a great historical composition The Proclamation of Dušan's Law Codex.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

As of 1888, he was proclaimed a member of the Serbian Royal Academy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanu.ac.rs/clan/jovanovic-pavle-paja/|title=Jovanovic Pavle Paja|website=www.sanu.ac.rs|access-date=2019-12-12}} He was tasked with painting monumental, historical compositions. After 1905 he devoted himself exclusively to painting the portraits in the style of academic realism for the rich clientele, and he became very famous thanks to them. Some of the most famous include those of Painter Simington, Mihajlo Pupin, Đorđe Jovanović, King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and others. He painted the portraits of his longtime model and wife, Muni with special care.

Painting women for Paja Jovanović always meant painting beauty. He simply did not want to see them ugly and old. Even when it was about not so beautiful women, he always tried to find the beauty in them. Many art critics reproached him for this, and sent fierce and even caustic criticisms, but he remained true to himself and his wisdom in life: "Skill is to find beauty."

Jovanović focused mostly on Serbian history, painting various historical events, such as

The Proclamation of Dušan's Law Codex, codex made by first Serbian Emperor
Saint Sava reconciling his quarrelling brothers, Sava was monk and a saint who focused on Serbian education and religion
Migration of the Serbs, Depicting Serbs led by Archbishop Arsenije III, fleeing Old Serbia and moving up north to Austria, Hungary and Vojvodina
The Wedding of Emperor Stefan Dušan

He painted the iconostasis in the church of St Nicholas in Dolovo{{Cite web|url=https://galerijaslika.rs/paja-jovanovic/|title=Paja Jovanovic slikar, galerija slika Beli Andjeo Art Exclusive|website=Galerija prodaja slika Beli Andjeo Beograd GLAVNI SAJT slike slikar cena|language=sr-RS|access-date=2019-12-12}} and Orthodox cathedral in Novi Sad,{{Cite web|url=https://ilovenovisad.com/vodic/sakralni-objekti/srpska-pravoslavna-crkva-sv-georgija/|title=Srpska pravoslavna crkva sv. Georgija – Saborna crkva|date=2016-02-28|website=I love Novi Sad|language=sr-RS|access-date=2019-12-12}} which was painted without commission. He spent most of his time in his atelier in Vienna, where he settled, and occasionally travelled to Belgrade. In 1940 he was made honorary citizen of Vršac, and in 1949 he was given the Order zasluga za narod (Merit for People) of the first category. He lived quietly and lonely, after his wife's early death, in Vienna until his own death in 1957. According to his will, the urn with his ashes was to be moved to Belgrade and where Museum of Paja Jovanović was opened in 1970, as well in Vršac. Later, in the building of the Old Pharmacy on the Stairs, in 1977 the permanent commemorative exhibition of Paja Jovanović was opened. The works of Paja Jovanović have been kept in the Town Museum of Vršac, along with his well-known painting Vršac triptych.{{Cite journal|last=Milovanović|first=Jovana|title="Вршачки триптихон" Паје Јовановића на Миленијумској изложби 1896. године: репрезентација локалног идентитета и (не)присутна идеологија / "Vršac Triptych by Paja Jovanović at the Millennium Exhibition of 1896: Representation of the Local Identity and the (not) Present Ideology|url=https://www.academia.edu/40129024|journal=Саопштења|date=January 2018}} Most of his works and personal belongings can be found in the Belgrade City Museum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.beograd.rs/index.php?lang=lat&kat=beoinfo&sub=1723592-u-muzeju-paje-jovanovica-stalna-izlozbena-postavka|title=U Muzeju Paje Jovanovića stalna izložbena postavka|website=Grad Beograd - Zvanična internet prezentacija {{!}} U Muzeju Paje Jovanovića stalna izložbena postavka|language=sr-rs|access-date=2019-12-12}}

Benefactor

Paja Jovanović was also a member of "Privrednik" Patronage. He remembered after graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, that it was the Matica Srpska that afforded him schooling. He joined Privrednik's work early on, making annual monetary donations and furthermore donating his valuable works of art to the Society.{{Cite web|url=https://privrednikrs.org/istorijat/poznati-dobrotvori/|title = Познати добротвори}}

Legacy

He is included in The 100 most prominent Serbs list.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vbs.rs/scripts/cobiss?ukaz=DISP&id=0024212555358291&rec=3&sid=2|title=COBISS/OPAC|website=www.vbs.rs|access-date=2019-07-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vranjenews.rs/news/atelje-paje-jovanovi%C4%87a-pred-vranjancima|title=Atelje Paje Jovanovića pred Vranjancima|date=2019-09-26|website=VRANJENEWS|language=sr|access-date=2019-09-26}}

Along with Uroš Predić and Đorđe Krstić, he is considered the most important Serbian painter of realism. Thanks to his extremely rich oeuvre with over 1100 works, especially works with themes from folk life and history, he strongly and widely influenced art education, culture, but also the patriotism of Serbian people. Jovanović received a number of orders and decorations both in Serbia and abroad. A number of schools in Serbia are named after him.{{Cite web|url=http://pajajovanovic.edu.rs/|title=ОШ "Паја Јовановић" – Добро дошли на наш сајт|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-26}}

Awards

The second award, for the composition the Wounded Montenegrin, the final annual exhibition of Department of Historical Painting in 1881http://www.artf.ni.ac.rs/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vesna-Gagic-Katalog-Secanje-na-P-Jovanovica-i-K-Babica.pdf

Gold Medal at the National Exhibition in Vienna in 1898 for the painting Cockfight{{Cite web|url=http://politikin-zabavnik.co.rs/pz/tekstovi/seoba-vencanja|title=Свака слика има причу {{!}} Politikin Zabavnik|website=politikin-zabavnik.co.rs|access-date=2022-09-13}}
Gold Medal at the World's Fair in Paris in 1900 for the painting The Coronation of Emperor Dušan
Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of the Vienna Art Society in 1901 for the painting The Wedding of Duke Ferri (or The Wedding of Emperor Stefan Dušan)
Gold Medal at the Paris Salon in 1902 for the painting Furor Teutonicus
Order of Merits for the People, 1st class, 1949{{Cite web |last=Republika |date=2019-12-11 |title=PAVLE PAJA JOVANOVIĆ Slikar srpske istorije |url=https://www.republika.rs/zabava/kultura/174358/pavle-paja-jovanovic-slikar-srpske-istorije |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Republika.rs {{!}} Srpski telegraf |language=sr-RS}}

Selected works

File:Paja Jovanović, Ženidba Cara Dušana, 1901.jpg|The Wedding of Emperor Stefan Dušan (1904)

File:Paja Jovanovic;Cas macevanje.jpg|The Fencing lesson (1884)

File:Paja Jovanović;Ranjeni Crnogorac .jpg|The Wounded Montenegrin (1882)

File:Joanovitch Paul (1859–1957) The Sword Dance, Private Collection.jpg|The Sword Dance or Fencing Game (1890)

File:Vršac triptych.jpg|Vršac triptych (1895), Vršac City Museum

File:Serbmigra.jpg|Migration of the Serbs (1896), Pančevo Museum.

File:Miloš, Marko i vila.jpg|Miloš, Marko and the Fairy (1906)

File:Sveti Sava miri zavađenu braću.jpg|Saint Sava reconciling his quarrelling brothers (1901)

File:Paja Jovanović-Krunisanje Cara Dušana.jpg|The Proclamation of Dušan's Law Codex (1900).

File:Furor-teutonicus-2.jpg|Furor Teutonicus by Paul Joanovitch The monumental oil painting (24 square meters) made in 1899 describes the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. It went missing after being in the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, though this sketch has survived.

File:Paja Jovanović, Takovski ustanak.jpg|The Takovo Uprising, depicting Miloš Obrenović (1894)

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20150511091021/http://www.mgb.org.rs/en/permanent-exhibitions/museum-paja-jovanovic Museum of Paja Jovanovic], Belgrade City Museum.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923094512/http://www.mgb.org.rs/en/legacies/paja-jovanovic The Legacy of Paja Jovanović], Belgrade City Museum.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20091226182616/http://www.muzejvrsac.org.rs/Izlozbe/PajaJ/PajaJovanovicE.htm In Remembrance of Paja Jovanović], Town Museum of Vrsac.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130219043844/http://en.narodnimuzej.rs/interesting/decorating-of-the-bride-by-pavle-jovanovic/ Decorating of the Bride (1885) by Paja Jovanovic], National Museum Belgrade.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20161127024410/http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/event/paja-jovanovic-izbor-slika-iz-zbirke-narodnog-muzeja-u-beogradu/paja-jovanovic-borba-petlova-4/ Rooster Fight (1897) by Paja Jovanovic], National Museum Belgrade.
[https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/greek-soldiers-with-a-woman-traitor-74961 Greek Soldiers with a Woman Traitor by Paja Jovanovic], BBC arts.
[http://www.artnet.de/k%C3%BCnstler/paul-joanovitch/greek-ballad-9ML1GGiEhuGRWXk5iAe3uw2 Greek Ballad by Paja Jovanovic]