Slavko Stolnik (11 June 1929 – 17 May 1991) was a
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
n
naive painter and sculptor.
Life
Stolnik was born in the village of
Donja Voća near
Varaždin
Varaždin ( or ; , also known by #Name, alternative names) is a city in Northern Croatia, north-east of Zagreb. The total population is 46,946, with 38,839 in the city settlement itself (2011).
The city is best known for its baroque buildings, ...
. Interested in painting since childhood, but born in poor peasant family, he did not have funds for education. Employed, first as a miner, then went to serve in the militia in Zagreb.
Hegedušić influence
In Croatian capital, soon he meets art pedagogue
Krsto Hegedušić who noticed his talent for painting, and teaches him painting on glass. After the great success, was considered almost a sensation in the art world, Stolnik went to Paris to conquer the world. Uneducated peasant, unaccustomed to the cruelty of the big city, ended up as a
Tramp
A tramp is a long-term homeless person who travels from place to place as a vagrant, traditionally walking all year round.
Etymology
Tramp is derived from a Middle English verb meaning to "walk with heavy footsteps" (''cf.'' modern English '' ...
under the Seine bridges. In 1963 returns to Zagreb and then to his birthplace where he is inspired by the local images of everyday life. In third, and most fruitful phase of his painting, between 1970 and 1976 he created most important works. Apart from painting, he has sculptor and skilful in folk medicine, which is why in late 80's, people throughout
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
visited him seeking remedy for recovery.
His first solo exhibition was in Zagreb in 1955.
Exhibitions
He has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions at: Zagreb, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Beograd, Lausanne, Paris, Zlatar, Varaždin, Frankfurt, Milano, Duisburg, Torino Asti, Eisenstadt.
His works can be found at the
Croatian Museum of Naïve Art in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
.
Death
During the night between 16 and 17 May 1991 year, in his home in Stolnik hamlet of Donja Voća, was killed by two robbers. In 1996, 80 paintings were stolen from his estate and were never recovered.
References
biography
Further reading
*
Croatian naïve painters
1929 births
1991 deaths
Croatian murder victims
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