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The bronze statue of St. Jerome
was sculpted in 1954 by Ivan Mestrovic (1883- 1962), Croatia's
most famous sculptor. |
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Auguste Rodin named his friend Mestrovic "the greatest phenomenon among the sculptors" of his time. Mestrovic, who was born in the Sava valley of Croatia and was raised in a Dalmatian mountain village. He wedded his stubborn individuality with his artistic talent and became one of the foremost sculptors of the 20th century. Like his contemporaries, he took a deep interest in and drew pride and inspiration from the folk traditions of his people. Unlike the other artists of his time, however, he actively participated in contemporary political affairs. His Romantic ideas, and their contrast with the grim realities of the centuries-long oppression of his Croatian people, were captured in his works, in which he tried to express what was rooted in the "heart and soil" of his homeland. Described as a "Patriot-Sculptor," Mestrovic's basic philosophy was that "nationalism in the hands of the creative becomes an instrument for the liberation of the Spirit and the mutual understanding of all mankind." One of Mestrovic's major interests was religious subjects, and drawings done during a brief imprisonment in 1941 were precursors to the statue of St. Jerome. This marked a turning point toward a new style and the development of strong and dedicated characters, such as the statue of St. Jerome, which reflects the artist's own philosophic resignation and peace. Mestrovic's work has been shown across the United States; In 1947 he was the first living artist to be honored with a one-man show in history of the Metropolitan Museum of New York. He taught as a Professor of Sculpture at both Syracuse University and the University of Notre Dame, and in 1954 became a citizen of the United States. Source: Ivan Mestrovic, sculptor and patriot , by Lawrence Schmeckebier, Syracuse University Press, 1959 |
