Anastas Jovanovic
Encyclopedia
Anastas Jovanović was the first Serbia
n photographer of his time to treat photography
as an art form and to capture on film historical events as they were happening. He was the author of the first photographic pantheon of the most significant events and people of his time. He died November 1, 1899 in Belgrade
at his home.
Jovanović, of Bulgaria
n origin, was born in Vratsa
, an important administrative and garrison city under Ottoman rule in 1817. He came to live in Belgrade
where his artistic talents were recognized early on. His mentor, Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia
, sent Jovanovic, at the expense of the government, to Vienna in 1837 to study painting
, graphics
, and lithography
at the Vienna Academy under the direction of Gselhofer (art) and Johann Stadler (graphics and lithography). While at the academy he became interested in the invention of Louis Daguerre
. He was also among the first photographers to capitalize on this new invention, which was capable of capturing a "truthful likeness" of anyone and anything. Jovanović, of course, became among the first photographers to open a Daguerrotype studio while still in Vienna. When he returned home in 1850, he was also among the first to make portraits using the new daguerreotype
method. (The first Serbian photographer, however, to use the daguerrotype was Dimitrije Novakovic, according to documents in the Historical Museum of Serbia).
After graduating from the academy, Jovanović was named personal photographer to Prince Mihailo Obrenović (the son of Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia) as well as the Chief of Prince Mihailo's cabinet.
From the very beginning, Jovanović's ambition was to create a collection of paintings and lithographs of Belgrade. He first painted and lithographed, and then when the new invention came along, photographed its historic buildings, its fortresses, garrisons, statues, shops and streets, and almost every notable Serb of his day.
His technique was advanced for its time, and his figures were obviously posed, but the directness and sensitivity of his work demonstrates without a doubt that he immediately recognized the new medium—photography—as an art form. He sold some of his work to Vienna museums, private collectors, and some early photographs to painters for reference. Many of his pictures were printed in Serbian magazines and newspapers.
Jovanović's importance was recognized almost immediately by the Serbian government. Exhibitions of his work were first seen in Serbia in 1850, and had a strong influence on the style of young Serbian photographers. Some 892 of his photographs form part of the permanent collection of the Historical Museum of Serbia in Belgrade. His most important portrait studies are: Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
; Mihailo Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia
; Vuk Stefanović Karadžić
; Branko Radičević
; Toma Vučić-Perišić; and others. His lithographs of Serbian men of letters (Dositej Obradović
) and military leaders (Hajduk Veljko Petrović
and Stevan Šupljikac
) are equally important from the historical perspective.
The portrait tradition of Anastas Jovanović was continued by Milan Jovanović, (no relation) who died during World War II.
Anastas's son Konstantin Jovanović
(1849–1923) was a prominent architect.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n photographer of his time to treat photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
as an art form and to capture on film historical events as they were happening. He was the author of the first photographic pantheon of the most significant events and people of his time. He died November 1, 1899 in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
at his home.
Jovanović, of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n origin, was born in Vratsa
Vratsa
Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,482 inhabitants....
, an important administrative and garrison city under Ottoman rule in 1817. He came to live in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
where his artistic talents were recognized early on. His mentor, Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia
Miloš Obrenovic I, Prince of Serbia
Miloš Obrenović was Prince of Serbia from 1815 to 1839, and again from 1858 to 1860. He participated in the First Serbian Uprising, led Serbs in the Second Serbian Uprising, and founded the House of Obrenović...
, sent Jovanovic, at the expense of the government, to Vienna in 1837 to study painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, graphics
Graphics
Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings,or...
, and lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
at the Vienna Academy under the direction of Gselhofer (art) and Johann Stadler (graphics and lithography). While at the academy he became interested in the invention of Louis Daguerre
Louis Daguerre
Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre was a French artist and physicist, recognized for his invention of the daguerreotype process of photography.- Biography :...
. He was also among the first photographers to capitalize on this new invention, which was capable of capturing a "truthful likeness" of anyone and anything. Jovanović, of course, became among the first photographers to open a Daguerrotype studio while still in Vienna. When he returned home in 1850, he was also among the first to make portraits using the new daguerreotype
Daguerreotype
The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silvered copper plate....
method. (The first Serbian photographer, however, to use the daguerrotype was Dimitrije Novakovic, according to documents in the Historical Museum of Serbia).
After graduating from the academy, Jovanović was named personal photographer to Prince Mihailo Obrenović (the son of Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia) as well as the Chief of Prince Mihailo's cabinet.
From the very beginning, Jovanović's ambition was to create a collection of paintings and lithographs of Belgrade. He first painted and lithographed, and then when the new invention came along, photographed its historic buildings, its fortresses, garrisons, statues, shops and streets, and almost every notable Serb of his day.
His technique was advanced for its time, and his figures were obviously posed, but the directness and sensitivity of his work demonstrates without a doubt that he immediately recognized the new medium—photography—as an art form. He sold some of his work to Vienna museums, private collectors, and some early photographs to painters for reference. Many of his pictures were printed in Serbian magazines and newspapers.
Jovanović's importance was recognized almost immediately by the Serbian government. Exhibitions of his work were first seen in Serbia in 1850, and had a strong influence on the style of young Serbian photographers. Some 892 of his photographs form part of the permanent collection of the Historical Museum of Serbia in Belgrade. His most important portrait studies are: Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
Petar II Petrovic-Njegoš
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš , was a Serbian Orthodox Prince-Bishop of Montenegro , who transformed Montenegro from a theocracy into a secular state. However, he is most famous as a poet...
; Mihailo Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia
Mihailo Obrenovic III, Prince of Serbia
Mihailo Obrenović was Prince of Serbia from 1839–1842 and again from 1860–1868. His first reign ended when he was deposed in 1842 and his second when he was assassinated in 1868.-Early life and first reign:...
; Vuk Stefanović Karadžić
Vuk Stefanovic Karadžic
Vuk Stefanović Karadžić was a Serbian philolog and linguist, the major reformer of the Serbian language, and deserves, perhaps, for his collections of songs, fairy tales, and riddles to be called the father of the study of Serbian folklore. He was the author of the first Serbian dictionary...
; Branko Radičević
Branko Radicevic
Branko Radičević , an influential Serbian poet, within a short space of time contrived to enhance Serbian literature with several perennially attractive poems.- Biography:...
; Toma Vučić-Perišić; and others. His lithographs of Serbian men of letters (Dositej Obradović
Dositej Obradovic
Dositej Dimitrije Obradović was a Serbian author, philosopher, linguist, polyglot and the first minister of education of Serbia...
) and military leaders (Hajduk Veljko Petrović
Hajduk Veljko Petrovic
Veljko Petrović , known simply as Hajduk Veljko , was a one of the voivodes of the Serbian Revolutionary forces in the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire.-Life:He was born in Lenovac near Zaječar....
and Stevan Šupljikac
Stevan Šupljikac
Stevan Šupljikac, known simply as Vojvoda Šupljikac was a voivode and the first Duke of the Serbian Vojvodina, in 1848.-Life:...
) are equally important from the historical perspective.
The portrait tradition of Anastas Jovanović was continued by Milan Jovanović, (no relation) who died during World War II.
Anastas's son Konstantin Jovanović
Konstantin Jovanović
Konstantin Jovanović was a prolific Serbian, Bulgarian and Austro–Hungarian architect known for providing the original designs of the National Assembly of Bulgaria and National Assembly of Serbia buildings.Jovanović was born in Vienna, the capital of the Austrian Empire, to a...
(1849–1923) was a prominent architect.