Mijat Sabljar (Dubica, 1790 - Zagreb, 1865)


Zagreb Jakob Stager around 1845 Oil on canvas 71 x 53 cm On a dark green background a middle-aged man, shown to his waist, turned a quarter to the left. Hair and moustache greyish, eyes greyish-blue, white shirt with a broad black necktie, black overcoat. On the left there is a book with the inscription: L.M.h.s.Gos.Druztva and Danica. There is no signature. Mijat Sabljar, from 1840 a retired major, is a key figure in the development of museology in our country at the beginning of the second half of the 19th century. Being a meticulous collector of antiques and interesting items, his contribution greatly enriched the holdings of the National Museum. After a short period in 1855, when he was the 'keeper' of the archaeological collection, he returned to the National Museum in 1862 and worked there until his death. Along with numerous important articles and treatises, rich notes from numerous travels through Croatia, he has left exceptionally valuable detailed descriptions of items that were to be found in the National Museum at this time, accompanied by excellent drawings. The painting originally belonged to the Vrbanic family; it was bought in 1973 from Abdurahman Numan from Zagreb. M.Schneider, Portreti 1800-1870, Zagreb, 1973, page 15 of the supplement, catalogue number 311; Muzeologija 28, Zagreb, 1990.




HPM/PMH-022311