Association of Croatian Studies Bulletin 54.Pdf

BOOKS & REVIEWS printing make this book a valuable and The chapter on “Roman Art in enduring gift for any occasion. Croatian Dalmatia First to Third Centuries The Preface by Jadranka Beresford- AD” by J. J. Wilkes is a survey mainly of Dr Gerard Toal, Professor & Director, Peirse reminds us how little known is imported and locally produced marble Government and International Croatia’s share in the European and world sculpture, representing imperial and Affairs, www.gia.vt.edu cultural heritage. This book aims to private portraits, figured funerary Virginia Tech in the National Capital present “an insight into some aspects of monuments and religious art, followed by Region announces that later this summer art and architecture which may be a shorter overview of public and private the book BOSNIA REMADE: ETHNIC unfamiliar to a wider audience outside of architecture, including mosaics. There is CLEANSING AND ITS REVERSAL Croatian borders, and some which may be an informative discussion of style and will be published by Oxford University understudied.” It is her hope that the book dating evidence for the sculpture followed Press. He is the first author, and the co- “will inspire further research and serve as by reflections on the images of the author is Dr. Carl Dahlman from the a reference for both specialists and all Olympian deities and those of Illyrian University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio. those who are interested in the arts in cults assimilated to classical deities. An appended catalogue of objects and sites Croatia and their wider context and who CROATIA: ASPECTS OF ART, may take pleasure in walking in the with bibliography supplements the survey. ARCHITECTURE AND CULTURAL footsteps of the authors.” There are now The art and architecture comes only from HERITAGE with an introduction by John seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Roman cities in the coastal area, therefore Julius Norwich, Frances Lincoln Limited, Croatia. the use of the term “Croatian Dalmatia” in London 2009, ISBN 978-0-7112-2921-1. In the Introduction, John Julius the title. The Roman province of Dalmatia Available from Amazon.com for $40.95. Norwich reflects on the past millennium extended over the present day Bosnia and The credit for conception and of the Croatian political position in Hercegovina. One missing updated realization of this book goes to Jadranka Europe and concludes that “Croatia is bibliographical reference is that of M. Suić’s Antički grad na istočnom Jadranu , Njerš Beresford -Peirse, who won the now at last enjoying the freedom and nd 1999 INA (sponsor of this publication) prosperity that it has for so many 2 edition 2006. award for the promotion of Croatian centuries deserved and so seldom “The Palace of Diocletian at Split” by culture in the world. She is the founder managed to achieve.” Sheila McNally is a scholarly and and Trustee of the International Trust for “A survey of Croatian History”, elucidating article on the past and current Croatian Monuments written by Stjepan Ćosić (translated by R. debate regarding the key issues in (www.croatianmonuments.org ). The book Harris), covers 13 centuries of history, interpreting this retirement residence of has no listed editor, but Jadranka must be during which the Croats created the Roman emperor: ancient and modern distinctive cultural values and achieved its silent editor. names for the site (villa, palace, castle), The book is a collection of 12 scholarly territorial and national integration (and use of fortification, and above all the essays, written by British, Croatian and finally independence), while negotiating design, function, meaning and American academics and specialists on art free or forced choices between the great powers of Europe. Historical maps relationship of ceremonial and sacral and architecture. Their brief biographical illustrate the key periods. spaces. The author’s compelling ideas on information is provided in the “List of Branko Kirigin in “Ancient Gr eeks the building’s role in imperial ceremonies Contri butors.” The essays are highly in Croatia” presents the up -to-date and imperial cult bring her to conclude: archaeological evidence and the ancient “The original strength of the complex lay literary sources for the Greek colonial in its multiple uses; its continuing legacy settlements of the 4 th - 3rd century BC on the central Dalmatian islands of Hvar stems from the grandeur of its (Pharos-Stari Grad), Vis (Issa) and experiments.” Korčula (Melaina Kerkyra), and on the Reading the chapter on “Illuminated coastal area around Split (Trogir- Ma nuscripts in Croatia” by Christopher de Tragurion, Solin-Salona, Stobreč - Hamel is like discovering a gold mine of Epetion). The system of Greek land European medieval and early modern division into plots assigned to the literacy. In the author’s words “to visit colonists is still visible in the plain of Croatia in pursuit of manuscripts is like Stari Grad. In 2008 this landscape stepping back into the distant European monument was placed on the UNESCO past…..many are still in the possession of World Heritage list, as the best preserved monasteries or medieval churches, of such systems that are known today. We preserving a way of life which has hardly get glimpses of the Greek-Illyrian changed since the Middle Ages.” The contacts and exchange from the 6 th essay is a richly illustrated survey of readable and enjoyable for non-specialists manuscripts written in Latin, Glagolitic century BC on until the Roman th th as well, and are free of discipline-specific involvement in the late 3 rd century BC. and Germanic between the 7 to 16 jargon. There are detailed and informative The most recent excavations on the small centuries, which were brought into endnotes for most essays, together with island of Palagruža uncovered a shrine of Croatia or produced in the country. Into it current scholarly bibliography and Diomedes, which Greek sailors is woven a narrative of monastic orders suggested further readings. Each chapter frequented on their open-sea trade route and their scribes and illuminators, the is richly illustrated with excellent color up and down the Adriatic. There are good most important being Giulio Clovio (Juraj illustrations of many sites and artifacts, Glovičić (1498 -1578). photographs, some of full-page size. The Donal Cooper’s “Gothic Art & th e quality of writing, illustrations and although the later do not have information on their museum location. Friars in Late Medieval Croatia 1212- 1460” is an overview of architectural and Bulletin of the Association for Croatian Studies – No. 54 Spring 2010 13 artistic patronage of the Dominican and historical narrative of artists and patrons of Vis was once occupied by the British Franciscan orders in the major Adriatic in their socio-cultural context. between 1805-15. Although cricket was cities. This heritage is the best preserved The last two chapters cover the introduced to the island at that time, there in Europe, after Italy, but is poorly known continental region of Croatia. “Castles is rather more to the story. We take a look in the Anglophone art historical literature. and Manor Houses of Croatia: Winning or The author’s aim is “to reference and at the book and consider if Vis could Loosing” by Marcus Binney is an enhance the synthesize” rich literature in Croatian, impressionistic tour of selected sites in Italian and German. One shall also find in Zagorje and Slavonia (maps included) connection. this essay much on the history of the built during the 17 th to 19 th centuries. There is mendicant orders in Croatia and the artists Binney enriches his perceptive an awareness they commissioned, as well as important descriptions of the settings, architecture of Britain’s references to documents in local archives. and interiors with information on the past links with the The next four chapters deal with the and present owners and occupants, while island of Vis. Renaissance and Baroque periods in the reflecting appreciatively and critically on A lot of this Adriatic region, with a common theme of the current conditions and future artistic exchange between Croatia and focuses on possibilities of the properties. Tito’s use of Italy, in which Croatia is a significant but Brian Sewell’s essay on “Museums often overlooked partner. David of Zagreb” starts with a critical debate on the island as a Ekserdjian’s “The Renaissance in Croatia the Mimara Museum and the questionable centre for the and Italy: the Chapel of the Blessed attributions, integrity and quality of most partisan Giovanni Orsini” begins with an overview of its paintings collection. Sewell resistance of painters and sculptors originating from continues discussion of attributions of during the Second World War. and working in both sides of the Adriatic. some works in the Strossmayer Gallery of Consequently, quite a few British His discussion of the Trogir masterpiece Old Masters and relates the life and work servicemen served there during the war. “ensemble whose sheer artistic quality of bishop Strossmayer with his art However, the shared history goes and virtual completeness make it one of th collection, whose later 19 century back much further, to 1805, when the the most remarkable sculptural paintings helped to start the Gallery of decorations of the entire Renaissance” Modern Art. Among them were the works British moved in due to the campaigns clearly integrates Croatian artists and of three painters who founded modern against Napoleon. This is largely now patrons into the Italian Renaissance. The painting in Croatia, Vlaho Bukovac, remembered due to Captain William three sculptors, Niccolo di Giovanni Celestin Medović and Nikola Mašić. The Hoste, who reputedly was responsible for Fiorentino, Andrea Alessi and Giovanni works of the best known Croatian artist of introducing cricket to Vis. Matches are Dalmata, are documented in the surviving the 20 th century, Ivan Meštrović, are still played there —the subject of th contract, which offers Ekserdjian the exhibited in a 17 century house in which occasional pieces in the British press.

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