Bela Čikoš Sesija

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Bela Čikoš Sesija
Born
Adalbert Csikos Sessia

(1864-01-27)27 January 1864
Died11 February 1931(1931-02-11) (aged 67)
Known forPainting
Notable workDante series

Bela Čikoš Sesija (born Adalbert Csikos Sessia; 27 January 1864 in

Symbolist painter, art teacher and one of the founders of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb
.

Biography

Mourning of Christ

Čikoš Sesija's father was a Captain in the border patrol of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire.[1] One of the Čikoš' ancestors was a hero at the Battle of the Sesia
in 1524 and, as a result, was knighted with the name "Sesija".

Due to his father's reassignments, the family moved frequently and his education was sporadic until he entered the Cadet School at

infantry regiment under Baron Josip Šokčević.[1] He moved up in the ranks quickly, becoming a full Lieutenant in 1886, but resigned the following year because he refused to help support Károly Khuen-Héderváry's policy of Magyarization.[2]

Despite having shown no particular aptitude for art, Čikoš Sesija enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna,[1] where he studied with Julius Victor Berger. While there he received two gold medals, in 1889 and 1891, for scenes depicting ancient history. In 1891, he also enrolled in a special course in Orientalist painting taught by Leopold Müller.

Salome

After Müller's death in 1892, he returned to Zagreb and participated in decorating the "Pompeian Room" at the local offices of the "Department of Education and Religious Affairs" (now occupied by the "Institute for Croatian History [hr]"). His work there was supervised by the head of the department, Izidor Kršnjavi, who would become his patron and mentor. The first thing Kršnjavi did was send him on a study trip to Venice with Robert Frangeš-Mihanović and Ferdo Kovačević. This was followed by studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich with Wilhelm Lindenschmit.

Čikoš Sesija then married his cousin Justine, then together embarked on another study trip to Italy.[1] This was followed by more studies in Munich, with Carl von Marr, after which he settled in Zagreb, joining the circle of painters who gathered around Vlaho Bukovac.[1] His mentor, Kršnjavi, was not happy about that, believing that Bukovac was a bad influence.[citation needed] This led to a conflict that caused him to leave Zagreb, in 1895, taking a job as a drawing teacher in Ogulin. A year later, he was back in Zagreb, with his own studio and reconciled with Kršnjavi.

In 1902, he left Zagreb again; this time largely for economic reasons, and traveled to America with fellow painter

Menci Klement Crnčić. Four years later he, Crnčić, Auer, Frangeš-Mihanović, Rudolf Valdec [hr], Oton Iveković and Branko Šenoa would join together to help create the "Royal College for Arts and Crafts" (now the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb).[2]

In his later years Čikoš Sesija became increasingly withdrawn. He died suddenly, while at his easel, working on a canvas called "The Death of Innocence".[1]

Works

  • Mark Antony and Caesar's Corpse
    Caesar
    's Corpse
  • Odysseus Kills the Suitors
    Odysseus Kills the Suitors
  • Homer teaches Dante, Shakespeare and Goethe to sing
    Homer teaches Dante, Shakespeare and Goethe to sing
  • From Dante's Inferno
    From Dante's Inferno
  • Dante Before the Gates of Purgatory
    Dante Before the Gates of Purgatory
  • Dante and Beatrice
    Dante and Beatrice
  • Judith and Holofernes
    Judith and Holofernes
  • Ta-bu-bu
    Ta-bu-bu
  • Walpurgis Nacht
    Walpurgis Nacht
  • Study of a dead guard
    Study of a dead guard
  • Half-Nude Female
    Half-Nude Female
  • Study of a Woman's head
    Study of a Woman's head
  • Female Nude
    Female Nude
  • Christening of the Croats
    Christening of the Croats
  • Portrait of Janko Kamauf
    Portrait of Janko Kamauf
  • Triumph of Innocence
    Triumph of Innocence

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Brief biography Archived 2015-04-17 at the Wayback Machine @ Essekeri.
  2. ^ a b "Retrospektiva Bele Čikoša Sesije: Soldat i symbolist" by Igor Brešan @ Slobodna Dalmacija

Further reading

  • Vladimir Lunaček, Bela Čikoš Sesia, Zagreb, J. Čaklović, 1920.
  • Radovan Vuković (ed.) Bela Csikos Sesia (1864-1931), "Za Psihom, sliko!" (For the Psyche, a Painting!) (exhibition catalog, 19 February - 11 March 2012.). Zagreb:
    Umjetnički paviljon
    , 2012.
  • Vinko Zlamalik, Bela Čikoš Sesija: začetnik simbolizma u Hrvatskoj (The Originator of Symbolism in Croatia) (doctoral dissertation), University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy, 1983.

External links