oil on canvas, 70 x 56 cm, signed lower right, in red, "Vlaho Bukovac"

Research information

The portrait depicts Niko Nardelli (1857-1925), the Viceroy of the Kingdom of Dalmatia (1906-1911), a high official of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and a baron. It was most likely created during the last decade of the 19th century, as evidenced by the apparent age of the portrayed -- about forty years -- as well as the stylistic features characteristic of the work of Vlaho Bukovac. The dating is also supported by the fact that the painter moved to Prague in 1903. The connection between Bukovac and Niko Nardelli has been documented since the 1880s, when the artist portrayed Nardelli's mother. Niko Nardelli was not only an extremely influential politician in Dalmatia and a prominent participant in the social life of the Croatian people, but also an important patron of the arts and a supporter of the establishment of the future Art Gallery in Split. One of the last acts of his administrative service was the signing of the founding documents of Hajduk in 1911, which is why he is often referred to as the "legal father" of the famous Split football club.