dc.description.abstract | The article aims to shed light on the evolution of the state portrait in Montenegro during the period in which
several problems were being addressed, such as resolving Montenegrin borders issues, confirming its status
of an autonomous state, building and strengthening its institutions as well as its economy and culture. The
development of the Montenegrin state was, as elsewhere in Europe, personalized and embodied by portraits of
rulers thus providing visual evidence of dynastic and state consolidation. The representation of Montenegrin,
as well as European monarchs of that time, was based predominantly on the national idea expressed by the
national costume. Metropolitan Petar II Petrović Njegoš wore such a costume while posing for several of his
portraits from 1847 to 1851. This type of presentation was established in the 1860s, during the reign of Prince
Danilo I Petrović Njegoš. At the same time, in the context of change in state structures, reforms and military
successes, Danilo I wished to be portrayed as a military leader. Reforming institutions, legislation, international recognition, were all expressed in the depiction of head of state working in his office, the idea being more
frequent since the coming to power of Prince (and later) King Nikola I Petrovic Njegos in 1860. Consistent
with the European practice at the time, in addition to representing a ruler as a statesman and military leader
working tirelessly for the benefit of his country, in the time of Nikola I the image of a ruler in ceremonial and
everyday activities, as well as with his family, was a recurring one.
Different codes of the representation of Montenegrin statesmen were carried out through the work
of photographers, lithographers, painters and sculptors, especially Anastas Jovanović, Johan Bes, Domenico
Failutti. Changes in the structure of representation were also accompanied by stylistic ones - from solid Biedermeier and academic, to more spontaneous and plein air forms | sr |