CROATIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN THE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD

EARLY PERIOD

On their arrival on today's territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croats search their first shelters in the ruins of Roman buildings; late classical refuges serve as their strongholds for the most necessary defense. Their early traces are found not far from Bijeljina, in Vrbljani near Kljuc and on Gradina around great fields of Western Bosnia. Some time after, the Croats begin to construct their primitive redoubts in plains, called today "gradiste". One of these, protected with dike and paling is found in Ukrina valley near the town of Derventa, and another one in Mahovljani near Banja Luka.

The number of discovered edifices is not great. Among them are church on Panik near Bileca, one of the churches in Zavala, on Vidostak near Stolac and in Vrutci near Sarajevo. Rectangular shrinesand on the external walls are common characteristics of all the churches. The church on Panik was covered with frescoes, while the church in Vrutci was equipped with stone furniture enriched with interlaced ornamentation. According to unreliable information, a round six apse edifice was built in Rogacici near Blazuj and although ciborium dates from somewhat later period, the church could be included in the same group of churches. The ruins of the church in Lisicici containing a small apse and two apses on the eastern wall can also be ascribed to the late pre-Romanesque period.

The stone relief of the figure of Our Lady with the Child, on Vidostak near Stolac, represents the only known example of the fine arts of the early Middle Ages on the soil of Bosnia and Herzegovina until today, although it remains difficult to date it more closely.

Relief of the Virgin Mary from Vidostak

Art craft, especially goldsmith's trade is very developed. One of the very convincing proofs that testifies about high leveled culture of the period and economic possibilities of the society is abundance of adornment enclosed within the graves. An ear-ring containing an inversed pyramid from Velika Kladusa and Kablica Malog near Livno belongs to the oldest examples of the culture mentioned. Their origin is traced to Byzantine or Mediterranean goldsmith shops. A bucket of gold-plated bronze from Duvanjsko polje is dated at the end of the 8th century. Archaeological find containing girdle trappings from Mogorjela near Capljina in Herzegovina is of Frankish origin dating from the 8th or 9th century. An iron buckle together with cross from Rusanovici on Glasinac region also belongs to the same group of artifacts. Great deal of ornaments can be divided into two cultural grups: into Dalmatian - Croatian group and Panonian group also known as the culture of Bijelo Brdo/White Mound. The ornaments pertaining to the first group appear as early as the 9th century and the same forms of it extend to the 12th and 13th century; the territory where the ornaments appear stretches as far as to the river Drina. Simple rings are rather often found as well as ear-rings containing small joints. All the ornaments of this sort are made in filigree technique and granulation.

Ancient Croatian jewellery - Turbe near
Travnik, 7th century

Among the better known finding places are Grborezi, Kablic, Cipuljic near Bugojno and Mogorjelo near Capljina. These ornaments for last time reflect the late classic tradition by means of Byzantium goldsmiths's trades radiating from the Roman cities in Dalmatian theme/polity, though it was even then created by Slavic craftsmen.

A magnificent example of Frankish jewelry is represented by a
girdle clasp ( buckle ) made out of copper alloy with gilded layer and inscribed silver application. The buckle is adorned with geometrical and vegetable ornaments; in three places it is embellished with animal figures of insular style. It is created by a metallurgist TETGIS in the 8th century, the early Frankish period, although it contains certain elements of late Merovingian tradition.

ROMANESQUE

Romanesque impulses arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina from Adriatic Coast and from the territory of Hungarian-Croatian state. Having in mind that these provinces alone represented outskirts of the West, they acted as a filter when it comes to style, taste and ideas. Bosnia on the other hand tended to isolate itself politically from the territories ruled by Hungarian Arpadovic dynasty, and this political orientation is reflected in lower level of cultural and artistic osmosis. Fund of Romanesque monuments in these parts, similar to the rest of Europe, is curtailed by great losses.

The examples include a young church in Vrutci at the spring of the river Bosna, built in the fullness of the style as well as the church built on the place where later the monastery of St. Nicholas was built in Arnautovici near Visoko, an older church beneath the Tower of St.Luka in Jajce, in Kolunic near Bosanski Petrovac , in Bijela near Konjic, the church of St. Peter in Zavala and especially the Benedictine abbey of St. Peter in Polje near Trebinje, today's Cicevo. The pre-Romanesque church on Panik near Bileca was painted in Italo-Byzantine manner at 12th century. Minute fragments of fresco of Romanesque type discovered in ruins of the curch of St. Stephen in Vrutci testify about the same time.

Parts of ciborium from the church in Rogacici near Blazuj as well as a tablet with cranes from Carevo polje near Jajce as well as capitels from Sarajevo and Kresevo and a basis of a Column from Rmanj on the river Una also pertain to the same group of monuments as the above mentioned. Objects of equipment from the older church beneath the Tower of St. Luke in Jajce create a special group of monuments, for instance the sculpture of the lion- the column carrier and some other fragments. A bronze crucifix from Mujadzici near Jajce represents an especially beautiful example of Romanesque sculpture which for its manner of clothes's adornment reminds of French creations from the 12th century. The spirit of the Romanesque style, when definitely planted on the Bosnian soil, was so strong in Bosnia and Herzegovina that the centuries to come treasured it.

Precisely this is the reason why it is sometimes hard to discern original forms from those infiltrated in objects of Gothic architecture acting as an obsolete element.The 2 monuments in Jajce are the examples of this kind of tendencies: biphore on the fortress from 14th century and the Tower of St. Luke from the second half of the 15th century.

Bronze Crucifix from Mujadzic

Jajce, Tower on the Church of St. Luke, 14-15th century, a rare
example of Romanesque architecture in Bosnia. The only original medieval
Church tower on the Balkan peninsula.

Jajce, the tower with the king's portal

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

Once a Dominican church of St.Anthony's, and nowadays mosque Fethija in Bihac, is the oldest edifice of Gothic style on the territory that Bosnia and Herzegovina covers today. The church was built around 1266 as the village gained rank of the free royal city (1262). The church of St. Nicholas in Mile near Visoko was in the forties of the 14th century constructed upon the ruins of the above mentioned Romanesque edifice. The building contained a wide square space intended for worshippers and an elongated choir stalls with trilateral end pointing towards East.The corners were reinforced with counterphore and windows with pointed apses were perforated with stone lace. Great deal of churches had a rectangular choir-stalls: the church of St. Mary in Srebrenica, Zvornik, Olovo,Jajce,the church of St. Catherine in Kresevo and the church of St. Gregory in Kraljeva Sutjeska. They all belonged to the same type called preaching churches and according to regulations of the order they were all modestly equipped. Close connections with Dalmatia are visible on the monuments in Jajce; the parts of richly sculptured Phial from the church of St. Mary can be ascribed to the Bonino Circle from Milan (1429), and an unknown edifice on the fortress was adorned in a manner resembling to the work of Andrija Alesi (1430 - 1504).

The tower of Saint Luke is characteristic for a blend of specifically Bosnian and Dalmatian traditionalism. It was constructed between 1461. and 1463. as an edifice with Romanesque gabarit although a Gothic window in the first floor together with sharp arch roofs in interior reveal its true identity. The tower is in fact the sole original medieval tower in the interior of the Balkan peninsula.

Considering the secular architecture there were two significant royal residencies: Bobovac and Jajce. There is a direct influence of Hungarian court art from the 14th and 15th century, obvious in the equipment of Bobovac while the court in Jajce was constructed in forms of Dalmatian - Venetian late Gothic architecture. The so called soft style of Parler school(1400) is visible on a few objects in Bobovac, and sepulchral slabs of Bosnian monarchs from the court chapel belong to extraordinary beautiful monuments.

Coronation throne of the Bosnian kings in
Bobovac

A great deal of monuments pertaining to fine arts and artistic crafts is saved on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The majority of the works of art is guarded in Franciscan monasteries of Kraljeva Sutjeska, Kresevo and Fojnica. The rich and renowned inventory of the monasteries in Srebrenica, Zvornik, Olovo and Visoko was irretrievably destroyed during the Viennese War, 1683. - 1699., and the treasury of Kresevo monastery was substantially damaged in the fire in 1765.

A part of Gothic wing is altar containing the painting "Deputation of the Kings" on one side and "Christ's pains" on another level surface. The first side belongs to the joyous cycle and was intended for occasions when the altar was open, and the second part pertains to the mournful cycle when the wings were closed. Master and creator of collapsible altar originate from same school from south-eastern Europe, possibly from Styria and it is possible to date it in the early 15th century. A beautiful silver chalice is also a part of the same treasury from the second half of 14th or early 15th century. A part of silver chalice adorned with engraving from Kresevo - although it is missing its original cup- appears to be from the same period. The silver pacifical in Kresevo is interesting for its engraving medallions in the ends of arms, representing persons dressed typically for the 15th century. Silver and gold-plated custodia reveals late Gothic elements together with silver censer from the same treasury. A late Gothic gold and slender monstranza that was guarded in the treasury of monastery on Scito in Rama was destroyed in fire during the Second World War. Only photography has been saved.

Pacifical, the Franciscan monastery in
Kresevo, 15th century

Casula representing Crucifiction, St.Mary and St.John in Sutjeska's treasury resembles to Dalmatian embroidery of the 15th century. Corpus Christi is formed in a typical Gothic style: breaking posture of the body at the foot of the cross and characteristically wrinkled clothes ( partially lately unskilfully restored ) represents an exeptionally worthy example of medieval embroidery.

Casula depicting the crucifixion, the
Franciscan monastery in Kraljeva Sutjeska, 15th century

It is possible to date only one part of great deal of chalices of late Gothic style in Kraljeva Sutjeska, Fojnica and Kresevo to the 15th century while the second part is closer to 16th and even to the begining of 17th century.

Gothic Chalice, the Franciscan monastery in
Kraljeva Sutjeska, 14-15th century

Only a lower part of the great stone cross with Jesus's legs riveted to one another carved in naturalist manner with joint characeristic to Gothic art and later styles. On the panel of widened pedestal there are two persons shown in high relief: the left person is bigger and dressed in richly seamed gown tightened closely in waist and with open cape thrown over. The second figure is clothed the same only an object similar to bag hanging on a band attached to belt is different. The figure holds the Holy Grail in the right hand while in the left hand there is an open coil-possibly Gospel. According to iconographic regulations the figures represented are St. Mary and St. John. The clothes realistically depicted resemble to clothing style common in the late Middle Ages or to be more precise in last decades of the 15th century, so the spirit of early Renaissance is already felt. A bronze bucket from Kraljeva Sutjeska found in Bobovac belongs to the same period and with its adornments reminds of Korvin's Renaissance.

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS

Divos's Gospel from the first decades of 14th ct. stands out among few manuscripts whose illuminators were educated on the West. The Venetian Apocalypse - a magnificent manuscript in which little flags have as separate ornamental motifs Kotromanic crowns and Angevine lilies. There are two exceptionally valuable manuscripts: Hval's Miscellany and Hrvoje's Missal. Both of the manuscripts were written in Croatian coastal town of Split, on order from Duke of the Lower parts and the Count of Split, the most powerful Bosnian nobleman Hrvoje Vukcic Hrvatinic.

Hval's Miscellany is written in Croatian Cyrillic script on 353 parchment papers, composed in 1404 in Split by the hand of the Krstjanin/Bosnian Church Christian named Hval. The codex contains parts of the Bible, some apocryphal songs and smaller theological discussions. It is very richly adorned with miniatures,flags, initials, separate figures, titles and portraits.The two illuminators shaped the Codex. The one that created figures of Apostles with Jesus, Crucifiction and Our Holy Mother on throne as well as initials containing human figures and some ornaments uses blue basis with some gold on frames and dresses. Faces of the figures are purple-pink with rather red cheeks while the contours of the figures and drapery are lined in black. The artist is obviously under strong influence of Gothic easel art. The second artist is a typical miniaturist. The figures he painted are set on gold background and put into architectural frame. Complexion of the figures painted is pink and hair is red. This master is, judging from his style, a typical representative of Dalmatian Gothic school of the 15th century.

A miniature from the Codex of "krstjanin" Hval

Hrvoje's Missal is more luxurious than Hval's Miscellany. It is written in Glagolitic script between 1405. and 1407. for St.Michael's church in Split( or Omis ). Glagolitic priest Butko wrote it on 247 parchment papers. The Missal is illustrated by the before mentioned illuminator of Hval's Miscellany who reveals himself more explicitly as a student belonging to same Tuscan Gothic workshop of late 14th century. He is the author of months's allegory, symbolical representations at the beginning of texts about Christ's pains and the saints figures.

Initials are adorned with foliate tendrils and with apostles's heads as well as with the head of Jesus. The pictures are made vividly in red green and blue color with gliding of some places. Drawings are very clear, and the figure movements are quite natural. St. Mark's lion is particularly conspicuous among symbols of evangelists, while St. John's head is depicted realistically - the characteristic of Florentine school. Donor Hrvoje is represented riding a horse on the whole page, equipped in manner of Italian knights of the 14th century.

Miniatures from Duke Hrvoje's Missal

BOSNIAN AND HEZEGOVINIAN MEDIEVAL ARTISTIC HERITAGE IN CROATIA

Numerous artistic works created on Croatian soil and ordered by landed gentry of Bosnia and Herzegovina create a special part of cultural heritage of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Beside Hrvoje's Missal, this category comprises especially luxurious works made in precious metals (silver and gold) among which chalices and arm reliquaries of Bosnian Banus Subic and of Duke Hranic of Herzegovina are of particularly exquisite quality. Furthermore, there is a stupendous sarcophagus of St. Simon made on order of Elisabet Anjou, daughter of Banus/Viceroy Stjepan Kotromanic. Most of these works is guarded in monasteries and churches of Zadar and Nin.

St. Simon's sarcophagus in Zadar

St.Simon's sarcophagus, St. Simon's Church, Zadar

Simon and Virgin Mary, the central part of sarcophagus

God's judgement, a part of the sarcophagus' cover

Vision in a dream, interior part of the sarcophagus' cover

Death of Stjepan Kotromanic, the founder of Bosnian royal dynasty.
A scene on the rear side

Elizabeta Kotromanic donates the silver sarcophagus to the Saint, her daughters Marija,
Jadviga and Elizabeta kneeling in front of her.
Posterior side of thesarcophagus

Chalices and Arm Reliquiaries in Zadar and Nin

Chalice with 8 medallions. St. Mary's convent in Zadar

Arms Reliquiary of St. Asel the bishop. Local church in Nin.

From the inscription we can make out that this Arms Reliquiary was ordered by ban Pavao Subic (totius Bosnae dominus - the master of the whole Bosnia) for the soul of the deceased brother Duke Juraj. It dates back to the period between 1303.- 1311.