Zadar, Croatia is one of the oldest cities in Europe, continuously inhabited for 3000 years. As such, it is recognized by History of Europe Encyclopedia.

In this short video you can see how the approach (with nice view of the islands) and landing at Zadar Intl airport look like from the cockpit. Since I live in Zadar, I’ve seen it many times from the passenger seat, but this is the pilot’s view. Very interesting.

A page from an illuminated manuscript showing The Virgin Annunciate by the renowned 16th century Croatian artist Juraj Klović (known in Italian as Giulio Clovio) was sold at Bonhams Old Master Paintings sale in London on 8 July. It was estimated at £15,000-20,000 but ultimately fetched £37,500.

The unframed page is 14 x 11.5 cm in size and shows the Virgin surrounded by a decorative border containing niches with statues of Moses and King Solomon, playful cherubs and decorative cartouches with trompe l’oeil insects.

Juraj Klović was born in Grižane, Croatia, in 1478. By 1516 he was in Venice painting his first miniatures after Albrecht Dürer under the name of Giulio Clovio. Thence he traveled to Perugia, where he produced between 1534 and 1538 what is now known as the Stuart de Rothesay Book of Hours, and then to Rome. In 1539 he entered the service of Alessandro Farnese for whom he created his masterpiece, the Farnese Book of Hours, on which he worked from 1537-46. The work in the sale is likely to have been produced towards the end of this period. By this time Klović had established himself as a member of that elite of the High Renaissance whose members achieved widespread acclaim during their own lifetimes: Giorgio Vasari was to refer to the miniaturist as the new and little Michelangelo. El Greco painted two portraits of Klović.

                                                                       El Greco’s portrait of Julije Klović

Bonham’s Director of Old Master Painting Andrew McKenzie said, “Klović, blended the Classicism of Raphael with Michelangelo’s mannerism. He possessed one of the most inventive minds of his age and never repeated himself; every motif and decoration was fresh in some way.”

“Croatia from above” is the biggest Croatian photo project ever undertaken. Photographer Davor Rostuhar spent seven years taking photos of Croatia’s natural and cultural beauty, using aeroplanes, helicopters and drones.
Result of the project is 200 unique photos that reveal attractions from a new angle, in a new light. All 200 photos can be seen in best selling photo-monograph: “National Geographic – Croatia from above”. 60 photos are presented in a traveling outdoor exhibition powered by solar energy that was seen by half a million people in 11 towns in the first year.
Author’s choice of 50 “best of” photos can be seen HERE.
Find out more about the project (and order a book) at:
http://www.croatiafromabove.com
all photos © Davor Rostuhar

It’s been a while since I posted some of my works here (a year actually, now that I think about it)…so it’s due time to upload – say, a couple of drawings I’ve done lately.

Here’s new promotional video for Croatia. Since this small country has given outstanding persons and ingenious inventions to the big world, people at TouristarTV decided to make a promotional video that shows some of those. Of course, they did not even try to mention all important Croats throughout the history – this is just a 1:50 min promo video – but the sheer significance of the people and inventions included in this video are more than enough to remember that our lives are full of Croatia, indeed.

Zadar Tourist Board has published new promotional video today titled “Feel ZADAR, 2014”. This four minute film highlights cultural landmarks, both historical and modern, of the beautiful Croatian coastal town I live in.

Exactly ten years after the recording of Felix Baumgartners base-jump in the Mamet Cave went around the World, this abyss on Velebit Mountain became the scene of another daring venture. Ivan Trifonov, a seventy-year-old Austrian with a Croatian passport, was the first man to try, and succeed in flying a hot-air balloon underground. The historic balloon flight – which was inspired by the visionary Jules Verne’s book Journey to the Centre of the Earth – lasted about 25 minutes. Trifonov is experienced hot-air balloon pilot and a proud holder of 4 Guinness records. Flying into the Mamet Cave, touching it’s bottom and successfully flying out of the cave is likely to be his fifth record, since no-one has ever done such a thing before. The aircraft was expertly lowered into the 206-meters deep and 90×160 m wide cave.  For flying underground Trifonov had to use a hot-air balloon specially designed for this unusual venture. His balloon was smaller than usual, and the brave pilot set on two gas tanks linked with steel pipes, instead of a basket.

Link to a video.

 

A short video promoting Central Dalmatia has beaten 68 other videos from around the world to win the award for the Best Short Promotional Video at the Baku International Tourism Film Festival in Azerbaijan. The video, titled ‘The Heart of the Adriatic’, was made by the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, with the film’s director Ivan Perić also picking up the Best Director award.

“The film was produced by the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board together with the team at Dream Division Production, and the award is a great success and recognition for the tourist board’s work,” said the Ministry of Tourism.

The film has had more than 1 million views to date on YouTube.

(source: Croatia Week)

I will have a one man show titled “A Moment of Stillness” at Captain’s Tower Gallery in Zadar,  on June 20th. Here are two of my most recent paintings, both done for that exhibition.

                 You can check the work in progress shots of this painting here.