art.wikisort.org - Sculpture

The Prešeren Monument in Ljubljana (Slovene: Prešernov spomenik), also Prešeren Statue in Ljubljana, is a late Historicist bronze statue of the Slovene national poet France Prešeren in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.[1] It stands in the eastern side of Prešeren Square, in front of the Central Pharmacy Building in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is among the best-known Slovenian monuments.[2]

Prešeren Monument
Artist	Statue: Ivan Zajec Pedestal: concept by Ivan Zajec, design by Max Fabiani, stonemason Alojzij Vodnik
Type	Sculpture
Location	Ljubljana
Coordinates

Statue

The statue that stands on a pedestal includes a sculpture of the poet, facing the window where his adored Julija Primic used to live, and a sculpture of a Muse above him sitting on a rock and holding a laurel branch in her hand.[3] The poet is dressed in the outfit of the period and holds a book symbolising his Poems (Poezije).[4][5] The sculpture of Prešeren is 3.5 metres (11 ft) high, and the entire monument is 9.6 metres (31 ft) high.[3] There is a small statue on the building that Prešeren faces, as well.[6]

Pedestal

The pedestal of Prešeren's statue is made of Pohorje tonalite and has three steps.[4][5] Above it, there is a cut rock block with the inscription "Prešeren".[2][4] The lighter base of the muse is made of Tyrolian granite.[5] It was made by the stonemason Alojzij Vodnik per a design by Max Fabiani, who based his work on a concept by Ivan Zajec. A letter about the erection of the monument and some coins have been built into the pedestal.[6]

There are two bronze reliefs on the lower part of the pedestal, depicting scenes from Prešeren's Poems.[3] The right one, titled Farewell (Slovo) or Črtomir and Bogomila (Črtomir in Bogomila), depicts a scene from the poem The Baptism on the Savica. The left one, titled Fisherman (Ribič), depicts a scene from the poem Fisherman.[7] The reliefs on the pedestal were created by Zajec.[3] They have a Classicist composition, a Realist cadre, an impressionist final touch, and emphasise Prešeren's Romantic poetry with its content.[2] The upper part of the pedestal is decorated with a stylised lime tree, reminding of the poet's homeland's symbol.[1]

History

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Creation and unveiling

The idea for the Prešeren monument was first proposed by a group of grammar school students in 1889. In 1891, it was supported by 52 Slovene scholars, and finally, in 1898, by Ljubljana mayor Ivan Hribar. He also organised a board for this purpose.[6] Hribar announced a competition in 1899.[8] Seven sculptors submitted their proposals in time,[3][8] among them Franc Berneker, Anton Bitežnik [sl], Jakob Žnider [sl], Alojzij Progar, and finally Ivan Zajec, who won it.[8] He received the commission on 18 October 1900.[8]

Zajec started his work in the studio of Hans Makart in Vienna.[2] The model for Prešeren was Prešeren's portrait by Goldenstein, and he depicted the suit of Prešeren after a model from 1830–1840, borrowed in a Vienna museum. The model for the muse was Olimpia Pozatti, a dancer from Trieste. The monument of Prešeren was cast in Krupp [de] foundry in Vienna (Kaiserlich Königliche Kunst-Erzgießerei)[8] in September 1903, and the muse was cast in the beginning of 1904.[6] The costs for the entire monument were around 71,000 kronen, largely raised by Slovene women and various societies.[8]

The monument was ceremonially unveiled on 10 September 1905. Over 20,000 people were present. The ceremonial speech was read by Ivan Tavčar.[3] A biography of Prešeren with some of his poems was published by Engelbert Gangl [sl] on the occasion.[8]

References

На других языках

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- [en] Prešeren Monument (Ljubljana)

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[ru] Памятник Франце Прешерну

Памятник Франце Прешерну (словен. Prešernov spomenik) — монумент, установленный в столице Словении Любляне в честь Франце Прешерна, выдающегося словенского поэта, видного представителя романтизма, основателя новейшей словенской литературы, автора слов гимна Словении[1].

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