Juraj Julije Klović – the Michelangelo of the Miniature at Klovićevi dvori Gallery Zagreb

The greatest miniaturist and illuminator of the Renaissance period, Juraj Julije Klović (1498-1578), won in his time the reputation of and the respect due to a consummate artist.
The Croatian artist who is best known in the world, who signed some of his miniatures Julio Clovio de Croazia, is physically present in Croatia with only three works, although many prayer books, lectionaries and breviaries commissioned by the greatest dignitaries of his age were illuminated by his hand. As they were then, so they are today cherished as some of the greatest of treasures. Once they were watched over by those who had commissioned them, and today are jealously guarded in the vaults of the best known museums and libraries of the world. In fact, the public has just as little access to them today as it did when the works were created. It is most unusual for them to be sent out on loan from the places in which they are kept.
 Accordingly the exhibition of Juraj Julije Klović, which is being prepared by the Klovićevi dvori Gallery to mark the thirtieth anniversary of its successful activity, is a remarkable enterprise indeed.
 For the loan of Klović’s works from the treasuries of Europe, Klovićevi dvori had to provide special and very rigorous conditions of exhibition and safekeeping. These are in fact precious items that are kept in safes and vaults. Having met these extremely stringent criteria, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, which bears the name of the famed miniaturist in its title, is able to put before the Croatian – and indeed world – public the miniature painting oeuvre of Juraj Julije Klović for the first time. For it is to Zagreb and Croatia that goes the honour of showing, for the first time, a large part of this famed painter of Mannerism assembled in a single place. Juraj Julije Klović – the Michelangelo of the Miniature, a native son of Croatia yet artist of the world, is coming with his works to Klovićevi dvori Gallery, which, during the exhibition, will offer some discoveries as well, Klović miniatures that are still occasionally to be found on the world art market. The Klović exhibition will be a unique, unrepeatable artistic experience and cultural event, with which Klovićevi dvori Gallery will triumphantly mark the thirtieth anniversary of its work.