Open reproduction of works from the legacy of the Lazović family, iconographers Simeon and Aleksij

An exhibition of reproductions of works from the legacy of the Lazović family of painters, iconographers Simeon and Aleksij, opened today at the Public Institution Museum in Bijelo Polje.

Thus, for the first time, in the organization of a domestic cultural institution, visitors were able to view reproductions of works by a family of painters who created works between the 1870s and the mid-19th century, whose art was widely known and was the foundation for the development of art in Bijelo Polje and Montenegro.

Previously, the National Museum in Užice organized numerous exhibitions of the Lazović painting family throughout Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Opening the exhibition, the head of the art collection, Ivana Smolović, recalled that the Lazović family has been creating for three generations.

"This is an extremely small part of what they created. They were very emotionally attached to the Church of St. Nicholas in Nikoljac, so a large legacy was found there, from which we have selected several paintings that you see today," said Smolović.

She pointed out that they created in numerous churches and monasteries throughout Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Metohija, Boka Kotorska and Dalmatia.

"They painted several iconostases in numerous monasteries, some of which are Dečani, Studenica, Savina Monastery in Herceg Novi, Reževići," said Smolović.

Director of the Bijelo Polje Museum Public Institution Željko Raičević emphasized the importance of this exhibit for the city and the museum.

"This is the first undertaking after the National Museum in Užice (of art historian Dragiša Milosavljević), which organized exhibitions throughout Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. And this, in a way, was our duty and gratitude to the Lazović family, who did a lot to popularize our city and Montenegro," he said.

Raičević explained that the Lazović painters created works over three generations, of which the rich oeuvre that is in the church in Nikoljac was left by Simeon and Aleksije.

"Unlike them, very little is known about the third of the generation, Lazar, but there is some information that he was also a painter and that one of his paintings is also in the church," said Raičević.

The exhibition of reproductions of part of the legacy will be on display until August 13th, and can be viewed every working day at the Bijelo Polje Museum.