Exhibition “Nikola Krasnov – Making Palace of the Yugoslav King”

The exhibition about “Nikola Krasnov – Making the Palace for the Yugoslav King” was officially opened tonight at the Royal Palace. HRH Crown Prince Alexander together with H.E. Mr Bratislav Petkovic, Minister of Culture and Information of Republic of Serbia officially opened the exhibition.

The exhibition is dedicated to the life and work of architect Nikola Krasnov, who on the initiative of HM King Alexander I, in the period between the two World Wars, started building the Royal Compound in Belgrade. Krasnov, formerly a Russian imperial architect, designed the look of the capital and several towns in Serbia. The exhibition at the Royal Palace in Dedinje, selected reprints from archival documents, the public will shown just one paragraph from almost half a century long works by the great architect Krasnov. The authors of the exhibition were architect Dragomir Acovic, member of the Privy Council, and Ms. Viktorija Kamilic, art historian and curator at the Royal Palace.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by numerous distinguished guests, among whom were His Grace Bishop Andrej of Remesiana, Mr. Miroslav Tasic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Information, academician Dimitrije Stefanovic, Secretary General of the Serbian Academy of Science and Art (SASU),  members of diplomatic corps H.E. Dr. Johannes Eigner, Ambassador of Austria, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Chushev, Ambassador of Belarus, H.E. Mr. François-Xavier Deniau, Ambassador of France H.E. Mr. Toshio Tsunozaki, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Zaw Tun, Ambassador of Myanmar, members of  the advisory bodies to the Crown, Mr. Dragomir Acovic, member of the Privy Council, Mr. Dusan Babac, member of the Privy Council, academician and member of the Crown Council Mr. Dusan Kovacevic, Prof. Dr. Dragoljub Kavran, member of the Crown Council, Prof. Dr. Nikola Moravcevic member of the Crown Council, Prof. Dr. Kosta Cavoski, member of the Crown Cabinet, Mr. Djurdje Ninkovic, member of the Crown Cabinet, numerous representatives of Serbian cultural institutions and other distinguished guests.

In the organisation of the construction of the Royal Palace the experienced and versatile artist, Krasnov, appeared as a designer, creator and decorator as well as an art curator. According to the documents all projects and sketches were made in the period 1929-1934 (a couple in 1938). Architectural projects, preparatory sketches, drawings entire and interior, technical drawings, paintings, sketches and water-colours have been well preserved. The complexity of the task meant that his responsibilities ranged from planning spatial entities to interior design, solutions for furniture design, furniture, as well as the exterior for the park. A special highlight is fresco painting for the Palace Chapel of St. Andrew the First-Called.

The exhibition at the Royal Palace in Dedinje, testifies that the extraordinary artist whose talents contributed to a very important project such as the construction of the royal residence. Krasnov was the designer and creator of a whole architectural design, but above all, he was very devoted to working for King Alexander I, until the last day of his life and reign.