Department of Conservation-Restoration

Arts Academy of the University of Split

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The exhibition of paintings - replicas of old masters represents a selection of works created within the framework of regular classes from the course Making replicas at the Department of Conservation and Restoration, Arts Academy of the University of Split, in the last few academic years.

Although most of the exhibited works are primarily the result of the teaching process itself; of learning and familiarization with the technique and technology of painting, and not the fruit of the hands of a mature copyist, nevertheless, over a period of several years, several sufficiently high quality and valuable works are created, which deserve to be adequately exhibited and presented to the public. The timetable for the Making replicas course is modest (two to three hours a week in the upper years) and is only a part of the extensive study program of conservation-restoration studies at UMAS.

The process of copying is extremely useful for mastering painting techniques and the technology of the painting process, develops artistic perception and painting sensibility, and deepens understanding and respect for cultural heritage, in this case for the immensely rich legacy of European painting (predominantly); often only by copying a work do we notice all its beauty and greatness, the layered composition, the artist's virtuosity. While in music, due to its allographic character (because the work and the method of realization or performance are easier to write down precisely), the performance as a re-production of the work is very important, not only for the technical development of the musicians themselves, but also for the process of experiencing the work by the audience, while in painting, due to the autograph character of painting, it is not only less valuable, but also often despised, derogatorily called a forgery, a kind of fraud, and not a way to experience the work.

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We would rather look at a small, often very poorly printed reproduction in a monograph that we are "sure" is the original than enjoy the artistic qualities of a replica. Because of this, the quality of the replicas, and the general craftsmanship level and understanding of the style and technologies of the old masters is often at a very low level, and exhibitions of such works are almost never held. The low level of quality of a large number of "replicas" further justifies the lack of interest and negative attitude towards the reproductions of works of art.

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This cycle of exhibitions, despite all the shortcomings of the exhibited replicas and despite all the inexperience of the young students of restoration, nevertheless fills the gap that exists in the art life of Split, but also beyond, and wants to point out the value of this approach to painting, the educational as well as the aesthetic and cognitive component of understanding and experiencing fine arts as a living process of fine art creation, and fine works as records that, not only could and may, but also should be reproduced, similarly to top musical achievements.

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The works are made mainly in the technique of oil on board or on canvas, by transferring the drawing to a painting surface using projection or raster, then underpainting with tempera, acryl or oil paint diluted with turpentine in earthy tones and finally painting in layers of oil paints. The use of projection is similar to the use of a camera obscura, or a camera lucida, and is not uncommon in the practice of masters like Vermeer, and even Leonardo da Vinci or Dürer themselves use various devices to see through glass or raster (sometimes even fixing their own head with a clamp to fix the viewing angle) precisely transferred drawing of a landscape or portrait.

 

At the opening of the exhibition, we always organize a performance of the students of the Academy's Music Department in order to create a synergy of image and sound, but also a synergy of re-productions of fine and musical works of art.

We hope that these exhibitions will bring at least a part of that beauty and joy of creation to your eyes and heart.

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Assoc. prof. Art., Dr. Art. Mladen Čulić