| Abstract: | This article explores the intricate interplay of art, national identity, and political dynamics
through the decoration of the Provincial theatre in Ljubljana in the late 19th
century. It investigates the competition among artists for the prestigious commissions
to decorate the theatre, focusing on the notable contributions and challenges faced
by Alojz Šubic and Ferdo Vesel. By examining their works and the broader cultural
context in which they arose, the study provides insights into the evolving artistic and
nationalistic aspirations of the time.
The history of painted theatre curtains, which emerged during the Renaissance and
evolved through several stages before becoming a powerful visual medium in the 19th
century, is discussed as the foundational framework for understanding the 1891 competition
for decorating the Provincial theatre’s grand curtain. This competition attracted
keen interest from Carniolan artists, including Ivana Kobilca, Simon Ogrin,
Alojz Šubic, Ferdo Vesel, and Heinrich Wettach. Only Šubic, Vesel, and Wettach submitted
proposals for the grand curtain, with sketches by Šubic and Vesel being the
only known surviving works.
Alojz Šubic (1866–1905), a young artist and student at the Academy of Fine Arts in
Munich, submitted a piece compositionally inspired by Hynais’s curtain for the Czech
National theatre in Prague. Despite his engagement with the national identity discourse,
his inexperience was a potential drawback for the project’s complex demands.
Conversely, Ferdo Vesel (1861–1946), with his solid educational background from the
Vienna Academy and his studies at the Munich Academy, demonstrated a meticulous
approach to securing the theatre’s commission. His sketches for its curtain, entitled
The People of Carniola Pay Homage to Art, are notable for their rich national symbolism
and depiction of individuals in traditional Slovenian costumes, reflecting a statement
of cultural identity and pride.
Heinrich Wettach, an academically trained painter who settled in Ljubljana from Vienna
in 1885, remains less documented but was ultimately awarded the commission
for the foyer’s ceiling painting of the foyer.
The competition’s conclusion underscores the interplay of artistic merit and political
considerations. The Provincial theatre’s construction management, comprising individuals
with diverse ideological views, had to balance these factors. The portrayal
of Slovenes in traditional costumes was likely seen as too nationalistic by some board
members, considering the theatre’s utrakvist nature, intended to serve both German
and Slovene-speaking audiences. Ultimately, the prestigious commission for the main
painted curtain was awarded to Adolf Liebscher, a Czech painter from Prague, whose
unexpected entry into the competition proved decisive. Heinrich Wettach received
the commission for the ceiling painting in the foyer, while Winter & Richter, a decorating
company from Vienna, handled all other painting works.
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