KATARINA IVANOVIĆ - FIRST WOMAN IN SERBIAN LEARNED SOCIETY

BIJELJINA, September 21 /SRNA/ - Painter Katarina Ivanović /1811-1882/, the first woman member of the Serbian Learned Society, died on September 22, 1882.

Ivanović painted portraits, historical genre compositions and still lifes, in which she achieved particular success.

Some of her paintings are considered among the finest works of Serbian classicism, including the "Portrait of Princess Persida Karađorđević", "Self-Portrait" and "Basket of Grapes".

Katarina Ivanović was born into a family of a Serbian merchant in Veszprém, in the Austrian Empire, but regardless, she was a great Serbian patriot.

She studied painting in Pest and Vienna, lived for a time in Paris and Belgrade, and then remained in Székesfehérvár until her death.

In 1879, Ivanović donated 15 paintings and other rarities to the National Museum in Belgrade, including her self-portrait.

The National Museum now houses two of her self-portraits, while Matica Srpska also approached her, requesting paintings for its collection.

Impressed by Katarina’s beauty and intellect, the highly popular poet of the time, Sima Milutinović Sarajlija, dedicated the poem "Trojesestarstvo" to her.

In 1876, Ivanović was granted the title of honorary member of the Serbian Learned Society, thus becoming the first female academic among the Serbs.

Katarina Ivanović died in 1882.

At the initiative of the Friends of the National Museum Society, her remains were transferred to Belgrade in 1967 and buried in the Alley of National Heroes at the New Cemetery.