oil on canvas, 69 x 59 cm

Research information

This painting represents a version of Simonetti's portrait of Bishop Strossmayer, whose well-known version is kept in the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art in Zagreb (MG-68).

PROVENANCE

Historical collection of the Vrhovac family, Zagreb; by inheritance to the present owner.

The relationship between Ivan Simonetti and Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer was a significant cultural partnership in Croatia in the late nineteenth century. Starting from 1865, Strossmayer engaged Simonetti, an artist from Rijeka and expert in restoration based in Venice, as his main agent for purchasing art in Italy. Simonetti used his professional knowledge to select, buy and restore twenty-seven paintings by old European masters. This collection ultimately formed the foundation of Strossmayer's gallery of old masters in Zagreb. Their close working relationship led to Simonetti painting the bishop's portrait between 1870 and 1871. This portrait presented a more realistic and informal depiction of Strossmayer, reflecting the mutual trust and personal acquaintance shared by the artist and his patron.

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