Ivan Mestrovic

From the collection of Ruza Klein, the artist's first wife;
Gifted to her first cousin, Anny Juer, née Klein;
and thence by descent

Pietà Laid on board. The drawing is glued to the mount, which probably dates to the 1960s. There is a 2 centimetre border of drawing under the mount, which is stained with the glue. It may be possible for a restorer to remove the drawing from the mount and board and remove the stains. There are a few minor stains close to the mount on the drawing and a minor scratch to the bottom right corner. Otherwise the condition is very good. Madonna and Child: Laid on board. There is some spotting to the surface of the drawing which may be foxing or mould. Otherwise the condition is good.
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The signatures on both these drawings can be compared to signatures appearing on drawings dating to 1913 in the collection of the Městrović family. Moreover the Pietà drawing relates very closely to other works on the same theme dating to 1913. In particular the depiction of Christ, with its strong references to Městrović's own features, can be compared to a Head of Christ which Městrović carved in walnut that year in Rome, now in the collection of the Ivan Městrović  Gallery, Split. Městrović's art always had a strong thread of autobiographical reference, with his own features and those of his loved ones appearing frequently in the guise of religious or allegorical characters.

A reference to his beloved Dalmatia is seen in the Virgin's veil wrapped tightly round her head, like the traditional headdress worn by Městrović's mother in his portrait of her from 1907.  It is tempting to see the likeness of Ruza in the Virgin. Unusually, the head of Christ is above the Virgin, appearing to shelter her. The poignant mood and tenderness between the two heads takes on secular echoes of the couple's ardent but troubled relationship. The provenance, coming from Ruza's own family, is very rare and the fact that the drawing was given by Městrović to be treasured by Ruza suggests that it had strong personal connotations.