MARBLE IDEAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 11, 24 December 1925, Page 11

MARBLE IDEAL

OF THE LIVING CHRIST, ITS brotherhood appeal. WORK OF BALKAN SCULPTOR. rpHKRE stands in Napier Hemy’s A old studio in Notting-hill, London, a nine-feet figure of Christ, which has just been completed by Yanko Brajovitcli, a native of Montenegro and one of the most remarkable artists in London. lirajovitcb, patriot and soldier, has not long been released from prison. He was in gaol in Belgrade for two years charged with a political offence, having been arrested by the Serbians who had overrun his country. In Italy, too. be was imprisoned because of Serbian intrigues, and he was twice expelled from Italian soil, although he had frequently been a guest at Court; for both the King ami Queen of Italy made friends of him. the Queen, ot course, being the daughter of the former King of Montenegro, who died in 1921. knowing that his country which had fought bravely for the Allies had been given into Serbian hands. Tho large figure of Christ, now standing m his studio, was fashioned in London, where Brajovitch has been , living for several months. “I did not use a model for tho head." he said. “‘That is my ideal. There is no living man like mv conception of Christ. You could not find ono in tho London streets.” Brajovitch wants this Christ figure erected in Ins native country with th" lace looking towards tho real land of his now Sorbian masters. “The Christ in tho Andes.” perhaps, is his inspirali,:n. 1:1 Brajovitch’s sculpture th*, Christ’s arms are outstretched in an appealing attitude, as though Ho were asking all mankind to he friends. LESSON FOR THE LEAGUE. ■ I would like the League of Nations to buy it and place the figure on the Ironiier.” said Brajovitch. Not that he thinks there is any chance of this. The League, small nations think, doos not worry about them. But this i» why the figure lias been macle. j -I have sculptured all these figures . during mv four months in Ixindon, i said the sculptor, and he pointed to a ; bust oi Sir Woodman Burbidge. one of Napier Hemv. one ot himself, and I some female figures. On stands, too, i wore clay representations of the late ' King and Queen of Montenegro. Tim i Queen, nearly finished had taken him > onlv :l lea hours. He bad done* it | irom memory; for the old Queen's features are engraven on his brain. ' And Brajovitch works like lightning. 1 “1 do in a day what most sculptors I would take months over,” lie explainI C The bust of Sir Woodman was made I in Harrods’ store, in Sir Woodman's ; office while work was going on. It I took Brajovitch less than an Hour. I I here are likely to he shown, before I Jong .other representations of Christ I Herbert Hampton, the sculptor, il J busy on one, and Frank Brangwyn an< i Sir .John Lavery, two of our. mos 1 I brilliant artists, are now paintinf i pictures in which Christ is the centra ; figure.