Jerolim Miše facts for kids

Jerolim Miše (born September 25, 1890 – died September 14, 1970) was an important Croatian painter, teacher, and art critic. He is well-known for his beautiful paintings of people (portraits), everyday objects (still lifes), and the natural world (landscapes) from his home region of Dalmatia.

Miše was a member of several famous art groups, including the Group of Three, the Group of Four, and the Independent Group of Artists. For over 60 years, he not only created his own art but also taught and encouraged other artists. He wrote many articles and reviews about visual arts, helping to shape how people thought about art. His work as both a painter and a critic made a huge impact on modern art in Croatia.

Jerolim Miše's Life Story

Early Life and Art Education

Jerolim Miše was born in Split on September 25, 1890. He started learning to paint at a craft school in Split. Later, he went to the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb. However, he soon moved to Italy to continue his studies. He first went to Rome and then to Florence, where he finished his art training at the Accademia Internazionale.

Art Critic and Writer

While he was living in Italy (from 1891 to 1914), Miše began writing. He wrote reviews and articles about the art scene in Italy for newspapers and journals back home in Croatia. He continued to write and publish interesting articles about visual arts throughout his life. Because of this, he became known as a very clear and knowledgeable art critic.

Teaching and Exhibiting Art

Just before World War I, Miše returned to Split. During the war, he served in the military. After the war, from 1917 to 1937, he spent many years teaching in schools in Krapina, Slavonski Brod, and Zagreb.

His very first art show where only his work was displayed happened in Split in 1914. From 1917, he also showed his art in group exhibitions at the Spring Salon in Zagreb. He was part of the Independent Group of Artists (Grupa nezavisnih umjetnika) from 1921 to 1927. Other artists in this group included Ljubo Babić, Vladimir Becić, and Ivan Meštrović.

In 1928, he joined the Group of Four (Grupa četvorice), which included Ljubo Babić, Vladimir Becić, and Maksimilijan Vanka. From 1929, he was part of the Group of Three (Grupa Trojice) with Ljubo Babić and Vladimir Becić. Miše also showed his art in other countries, like Paris (1919) and London (1930).

Travels and Artistic Growth

In 1922, Miše traveled to Munich, Berlin, and Dresden to study art. There, he learned about the works of old master painters and also the modern artist Paul Cézanne. He visited Paris in 1925 and again in 1929. These trips were very important for developing his unique painting style. He painted many portraits, self-portraits (pictures of himself), and still lifes. He also captured the beauty of islands like Brač, Šolta, Krk, Korčula, and the area around Dubrovnik.

Later Teaching Career

In 1937, Miše began teaching at the Academy of Art in Belgrade. He stayed there until 1943, when he moved to the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb. He continued to teach in Zagreb until he retired in 1961.

Jerolim Miše passed away in Split on September 14, 1970.

Jerolim Miše's Artistic Style

Early Interests and Influences

When Miše was studying in Rome and Florence, he was very interested in the ideas behind art, not just how to paint. He spent time with modern artists in Rome, discussing different art movements like Viennese secession and Italian futurism. He also spent time with Ivan Meštrović, another artist from Split. However, Miše's early paintings didn't really show the strong influence of these styles. His early works were often simple, with clear and basic subjects.

Developing His Painting Style

Miše's early paintings were mostly portraits. But over time, he started painting more landscapes. Eventually, he painted almost everything he saw: city views, natural landscapes, people, still lifes, and even animals. His later landscapes of his home region, Dalmatia, are known for their vibrant colors and capture the feeling of the place.

Miše himself said that his trip to Paris in 1925 was a turning point for his art. For a big exhibition of his work in 1955 at the Modern Gallery, Zagreb, he wrote that he started with the Secession style. He also mentioned that he was 32 years old when he discovered the works of famous artists like Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Paul Cézanne.

In 1928, he spent a long time in Supetar on the island of Brač. There, he painted a series of views of the town, showing its quiet streets in the summer heat. He also painted many landscapes and seascapes. These paintings are full of expressive colors and remind people of the styles of Cézanne and Renoir.

Art historian Igor Zidić described Miše's art as a mix of different styles. He said Miše's work showed "the struggle between the hard, clear shapes of secessionist art, and the vibrating surfaces of impressionism." This means Miše was trying to combine the German focus on the subject with the French focus on light in his paintings.

Notable Works by Jerolim Miše

• Self-portrait (Autoportret), 1916
• Portrait of a Bride (Portret zaručnice)
• Girl with Melon (Djevojku s dinjom)
• Portrait of Ivo Tartaglia (Portret Ive Tartaglie), 1919
• Seascape, Supetar (Primorsku vedutu, Supetar)
• Noon in Supetar, (Podne u Supetaru) 1928
• Portrait of the Painter Rački (Portret slikara Račkog), 1929
• Red House (Crvene kuće), 1930
• Noon in Koločep (Podne u Koločepu), 1931
• Young Girl (Djevojčica), 1932
• Grouper (Škarpina), 1934
• May Morning on Lopud (Majsko jutro na Lopudu)
• Still life with brushes (Mrtva priroda s kistovima), 1961

Art Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

During his lifetime, Jerolim Miše had many solo art shows in cities like Split, Slavonski Brod, Rijeka, Zadar, Zagreb, and Belgrade. Here are some more recent solo exhibitions:

• 2008: Jerolim Miše - Gallery Adris, Rovinj
• 1990: Jerolim Miše - Art Pavilion, Zagreb
• 1970: Jerolim Miše Retrospective - Gallery of Fine Arts, Split

Group Exhibitions

Here is a recent group exhibition where his work was shown:

• 2006: Croatian Collection - Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje

Public Art Collections

You can find Jerolim Miše's artwork in these public art collections:

Croatia

• Gallery of Fine Arts, Split (Galerija Umjetnina) Split
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb (Muzej Suvremene Umjetnosti)
• Modern Gallery, Zagreb (Galerija Moderna)

Macedonia (F.Y.R.M.)

• Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje