Original scientific paper
PETAR SMAJIĆ FIRSTLINGS
Marjan Mušić
; Ljubljana
Abstract
The author describes his getting acquainted with Petar Smajić, the creator of naive sculptures, whom he first met in 1933, when as a young architect he was assigned to the management of the construction of the building commissioned by the Penzioni Zavod (The Institute of Pension) in Split. A number of peasants were attracted to Split when the news of the new construction work spread. The peasants came from the Zagora – the mountainious part of Dalmatia – eager to find some earnings. The author noticed among those labourers a shy youth who liked to cut figures in wood and encouraged him to cut his own figure. The firstlings of the now famous naive sculptor, made for the author of the present article, showed Petar Smajić carrying hoes on the shoulder. The architect’s duties did not allow him to dedicate more time to the young sculptor, but he recommended him to Dr. Slobodan Vidović, a son of the well-known painter, who himself showed a great interest in art and was a Maecenas and a collector of artistic works. Dr. Vidović eagerly interceded in behalf of Smajić.
On his return to Ljuboljana, the author of the present article did not further learn about Smajić until 1956, and the sculpture »Smajić with a hoe« he presented after the World War II to the director of the Ethnographical Museum of Ljubljana. After the director’s death, however, the figure was lost. The author now has only an intimate remembrance of his first encounter with Smajić and of his two firstlings that directed his further development. The truth about Smajić’s beginnings had been misinterpreted in the press.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
159666
URI
Publication date:
23.12.1980.
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