Marko Celebonovic
Encyclopedia
Marko Čelebonović (1902–1986) was one of the most famous Serbia
n painters of the 20th century.
Čelebonović was born in Belgrade
. He studied law and economics in England
and France
. His first public exhibition was in Paris
in 1925. Before World War II
he resided in Saint Tropez. During the years of war he was a member of the French Resistance
. After the war he returned to Yugoslavia
and from 1948 to 1960, he was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. During this time, he had numerous shows in Paris, Belgrade, Zurich
, Geneva
, Sarajevo
, Skopje
and Niš
, as well as taking part in a number of collective shows of French painters in France and Italy
, and in Yugoslav exhibitions in France, England, Belgium
, Italy
, Holland, and Brazil
. In 1963 he was awarded the "7th July" prize for life's work.
In the spring of 1923, upon his return from England, he appeared at the free Paris school Grande Chaumiere in Antoine Bourdelle
's studio, with the intention of devoting himself to sculpture
. However, already in summer 1923 he began painting in his own studio and from then on completely devoted himself to painting. In May 1925 he exhibited for the first time in the Salon des Tuilleries, and in June he left for Saint Tropez. He worked with many colleagues including, most notabily, Villard, Signac, Marquet, Segonzac, and Tereškovic. For this reason his art bears many a characteristic of French painting and French tradition. Much of Celebonovic's work is parallel to the tradition exhibited by the 1930 generation of French artists. However, be nonetheless maintained a more Balkan and Oriental tones in his works. Celebonovic's best works are characterized by an Oriental touch, Oriental preference for ripeness and violence of colour, such as the meaning of silence and its light, of gentle restrained gesture, the weight of the seated or lying human body. The rational element is present in his painting, but always submerged under authentic affective attitude to life.
Although he spent his years in France, he was always closely attached to the Yugoslav painters who occasionally visited France (Sreten Stojanovic
, Marin Tartaglia, Petar Lubarda
). In 1937 he had his first independent show in Belgrade, and in 1938 he exhibited with Twelve group. In those years he occasionally visited Yugoslavia, painted in Belgrade and on the Montenegrin Littoral, visited medieval monasteries and was an active presence in the art of the period. In his later years, Celebonovic quoted " My life and work have been determined by my attitude towards Yugoslavia. I have linked the fate of my art with Yugoslav painting. How one grows and attains maturity is a question apart. The influence of French painting upon myself and others is natural enough. After all, who has ever been free from influence?
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 painters of the 20th century.
Čelebonović was born 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...
. He studied law and economics in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His first public exhibition was in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1925. Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he resided in Saint Tropez. During the years of war he was a member of the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. After the war he returned to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and from 1948 to 1960, he was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. During this time, he had numerous shows in Paris, Belgrade, Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
and Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, as well as taking part in a number of collective shows of French painters in France and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and in Yugoslav exhibitions in France, England, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Holland, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. In 1963 he was awarded the "7th July" prize for life's work.
In the spring of 1923, upon his return from England, he appeared at the free Paris school Grande Chaumiere in Antoine Bourdelle
Antoine Bourdelle
Antoine Bourdelle , originally Émile Antoine Bourdelle, was an influential and prolific French sculptor, painter, and teacher.-Career:...
's studio, with the intention of devoting himself to sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. However, already in summer 1923 he began painting in his own studio and from then on completely devoted himself to painting. In May 1925 he exhibited for the first time in the Salon des Tuilleries, and in June he left for Saint Tropez. He worked with many colleagues including, most notabily, Villard, Signac, Marquet, Segonzac, and Tereškovic. For this reason his art bears many a characteristic of French painting and French tradition. Much of Celebonovic's work is parallel to the tradition exhibited by the 1930 generation of French artists. However, be nonetheless maintained a more Balkan and Oriental tones in his works. Celebonovic's best works are characterized by an Oriental touch, Oriental preference for ripeness and violence of colour, such as the meaning of silence and its light, of gentle restrained gesture, the weight of the seated or lying human body. The rational element is present in his painting, but always submerged under authentic affective attitude to life.
Although he spent his years in France, he was always closely attached to the Yugoslav painters who occasionally visited France (Sreten Stojanovic
Sreten Stojanovic
Sreten Stojanović was one of the most prominent Bosnian and Serbian sculptors of the 20th century.He was born in 1898 in Prijedor in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the house of Orthodox priests who "preached the faith for strength of people and who imagined Russia to be something that is ours or more...
, Marin Tartaglia, Petar Lubarda
Petar Lubarda
Petar Lubarda was a Serbian painter, considered to be an influential figure on post-war painting in former Yugoslavia....
). In 1937 he had his first independent show in Belgrade, and in 1938 he exhibited with Twelve group. In those years he occasionally visited Yugoslavia, painted in Belgrade and on the Montenegrin Littoral, visited medieval monasteries and was an active presence in the art of the period. In his later years, Celebonovic quoted " My life and work have been determined by my attitude towards Yugoslavia. I have linked the fate of my art with Yugoslav painting. How one grows and attains maturity is a question apart. The influence of French painting upon myself and others is natural enough. After all, who has ever been free from influence?