Portraits of Šibenik citizens
The Šibenik museum
During the course of history man has strived to record his appearance thus his existence, through portraits, and in the 19 th c through photographs. Because of its practicality, and price the photograph as a new media overrode the painting of portraits. So it's understandable that painters were also the first photographers.
Before the appearance of the plague, Šibenik had a population of approx. 6 thousand, and after the plague disappeared, it took the till the end of the 1870s to reach a number of 6032 inhabitants, which is evidential from the official statistics in 1869. This statistic shows evidence of demographic and anthropological changes that begun after the withdrawal of the plague. These changes had an immense impact on Šibenik's society, economy and on its culture. Farmers all over the region populated Šibenik, mainly the area around the city walls (Varoš).
These newcomers brought with them their habits, language, clothing and their language and customs, which influenced the scarce indigenous inhabitants of the old Šibenik.
In this new social environment, photo studios were established. The first permanent photographer in Šibenik was Franz Lafrost. In the1890s Raimund Neuner opened his photo studio, and at the same time did Krste Mattiazzi and the Anelli family, because of this we have many photographs of Šibenik citizens from the 19 century. The works of three amateur photographers are significant as well, the works of Jerolim Marasović, Andrija Agazzi, and Ante Vlahović.
The photograph in the form of a portrait was the most popular type in Šibenik, and in Croatia .
In the background of the photographs- portraits the props of certain studios can be seen. These props were stylish furniture, columns and banisters. Later the background was a picture according to the clients wishes. On rear of these photographs the name of the studio was printed as were the awards which the photographer had won.
With this exhibit of old photos, “Portraits of Šibenik Citizens”, it's our wish to present photographs of their ancestors. This bears a significant role in our cultural heritage and provides a great contribution to origin and the cultural identity of our town.
The portraits of many families that have lived in Šibenik are exhibited, from the 1850s to the 1900s. Also there are portraits of many important persons, who contributed in science, politics, economy, and culture: Ante Šupuk (1838-1904) the major of Šibenik from 1873-1903 and a longstanding member of the Zadar parliament and Vienna parliament; Robert Visiani, respected doctor and botanist; Nikola Tommase, Italian writer and lexicographer born in Šibenik; Zvonimir Rakamarić, an artist and Martin Tina Pattier, a well-known opera singer.
The photographs that are exhibited are provided by the Šibenik museum, and the owners of the photos and their families. We take this opportunity to thank all of them in helping us organize this exhibition.
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