Split I.: Mestrovic Gallery

Ivan Meštrović, to whose art I was introduced in Zagreb, had a villa in Split which is now a museum filled with his work. Lest you think I am making too big a deal of his sculpture, consider that Auguste Rodin described Meštrović as ‘the greatest phenomenon in sculpture.’ With Rodin’s endorsement take a look…

**Gregor of Nin** **(1929)** This one is actually just outside the Gold Gate of Diocletian’s Palace in Split. The statue is 28 ft. tall. Gregor of Nin was a Croatian bishop in Dalmatia who, around 925CE, tried to get the Pope to allow use of the Croatian language in the celebration of the mass.

The Villa.

**Madonna and Children (1925)** This is Meštrović’s nod to Michelangelo; note the unworked or roughly worked marble that frames the sculpture.

**Ruza Klein (1915)** Meštrović’s first wife.

Meštrović made small bronze versions before producing the monumental final.

Crikvine-Kastilac

In 1939, Meštrović bought a property that was originally a fortified Renaissance estate. It’s just down the street from the villa. He chose this location to develop a vision he had for a unique religious/artistic installation- kind of an early immersive experience. For 30 years, Meštrović had been working on 28 wooden relief panels depicting scenes from the life of Christ and a Crucifix. He filled the estates chapel with these works.