PAJA JOVANOVIĆ - ACADEMIC REALISM

BIJELJINA, JUNE 3 /SRNA/ - Painter Paja Jovanović /1859-1957/, representative of academic realism, member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the first Serbian painter to gain European reputation, was born on June 4, 1859.

Paja Jovanović spent most of his life in Vienna, where he died in 1957.

He was an outstanding connoisseur of painting and found inspiration in Serbian national history.

He painted large rood screens in the Cathedral Church in Novi Sad and the Small / Upper/ Church in Dolovo, near Pančevo, and he portrayed several rulers and church dignitaries.

Paja Jovanović also composed folkloric and historical compositions, including "The Migration of the Serbs", "The Proclamation of Dušan's Code", "The Takovski Uprising", "Fencing" and "Bridal Decorations".