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Monument to Vuk Karadžić

Monument to Vuk Karadžić is a bronze statue in Belgrade depicting the Serbian writer and linguist Vuk Karadžić, a leading reformer of the Serbian literary language. Created by Đorđe Jovanović, it shows Karadžić standing and holding a book symbolizing his work. The monument was conceived in 1920, cast in bronze in 1932, and later installed at the corner of Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard and Ruzveltova Street, in the Ćirilo i Metodije park. It was unveiled on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Karadžić’s birth and is part of a group of representative public monuments in Belgrade. It is also recognized as a cultural property of the city.

Vuk Karadžić Monument showing a bronze seated figure holding an open book on a stone pedestal.
The Vuk Karadžić Monument depicts a seated bronze figure holding an open book atop a dark stone pedestal.
September 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bronze monument of Vuk Karadžić seated on a tall stone pedestal, holding a book, with trees and a cloudy sky behind it.
The Vuk Karadžić Monument shown on a tall stone pedestal beneath a cloudy sky.
© · CC BY 2.0
Vuk Karadžić Monument with a seated bronze figure holding a book on a tall stone pedestal surrounded by trees
The Vuk Karadžić Monument stands outdoors on a tall pedestal, framed by trees and a clear sky.
September 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Vuk Karadžić Monument with a seated bronze figure holding a book on a tall stone pedestal
The Vuk Karadžić Monument rises on a tall pedestal in a park-like setting.
· Public domain
Vuk Karadžić Monument, a bronze seated statue of a man holding an open book on a stone pedestal with Cyrillic inscriptions.
The Vuk Karadžić Monument shows a seated bronze figure holding an open book beside flowering trees.
May 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleMonument to Vuk Karadžić
Typemonument
SubjectVuk Karadžić
Depicted person descriptionSerbian writer and linguist; main reformer of the Serbian literary language
Depicted person's lifespan1787–1864

Historical context

Proposed bythe Serbian Literary Society
Proposed in1920
Funded bydonations from Serbian citizens
CompetitionA competition was supposed to be announced throughout Yugoslavia
Cast in bronze1932

Creator

SculptorĐorđe Jovanović (1861–1953)
Sculptor descriptionFounder of modern Serbian sculpture and the first artist to create large-format sculptures

Discovery and provenance

Brought to Belgrade1932

Physical characteristics

Height7.25 metres

Materials

Pedestal materialgranite
Materialbronze

Appearance

DepictionFull-length standing figure holding a book in his hands

Iconography and meaning

Book symbolismThe book symbolizes all of Karadžić's work

Location and ownership

Current locationĆirilo i Metodije Park, at the corner of Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard and Ruzveltova Street, Belgrade, Serbia
Initial planned locationThe centre of the park in front of the university (present Students' Park), between the monuments to Dositej Obradović and Josif Pančić

History and restoration

Initial location decided in1932
Location changed in1937
Unveiled on7 November 1937
Unveiled forthe 150th anniversary of the birth of Vuk Karadžić

Significance

DescriptionA representative public monument erected in honor of a deserving personality of the Serbian people
Stylistic noteDesigned in the late period of the artist's career, but it bears the qualities of his artistic expression
Cultural statusDeclared a cultural property of the City of Belgrade
Named after the monumentThe nearby Beovoz interchange station, the future Belgrade light rail station, and the surrounding neighborhood are named Vukov spomenik ('Monument of Vuk')
Associated station nameVuk's Monument
Associated neighborhood nameVukov Spomenik