Written by Ivana Udovičić

Gabrijel Jurkić, Self-Portrait, 1911, oil on canvas

Promoting its activities and collections through social networks opened a new sort of dialogue between the National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its audience. We are faced with different comments, suggestions and praises. It is interesting that there were some attempts to correct the „spelling mistake“ we are making when writing the name of renown Bosnian-Herzegovinian painter Gabrijel Jurkić with the letter „j“ in his first name.

Who says that this is not correct and based on what?

As this topic repeats year after year, it could be concluded that this is the most important thing in our art history, or even better, that perhaps this is the only thing that Gallery is making a mistake with. It is not our intention, therefore, to enter into polemics on this matter, to justify ourselves or correct others, especially not via social media, so here we will outline some of the facts to clarify why Jurkić is „Gabrijel“ to us and „Gabriel“ elsewhere.

Gabrijel Jurkić was born in 1886 in Livno which was then part of Austro-Hungarian Empire. In his certificate of baptism and its transcript from 1897 is stated that GABRIEL JURKIĆ, lawful son of father Anto and mother Luca born Gjogić (sic!). Same spelling of the name is found in the certificate from Vienna Academy from 1910.

In those early creative years, his paintings, made in Vienna or under Viennese influence, are signed without the „j“ in his name. He will later sign his painting only with the initials.

So much from the official documents.

His twin brother Mirko wrote an introduction for the catalogue of his solo exhibition held in Sarajevo in 1911 where he mentions the name Gabrijel.

In 1974 on the occasion of artist’s death, the obituaries bear the name Gabrijel. One is written by his wife Štefa and another by Franciscan Friars from Livno.

Between these two dates appear numerous titles in press and professional literature which mostly use the name Gabrijel. After artist’s death, and especially in recent years with growing interest for his work, resurges the version of the name Gabriel. It is interesting to highlight the existence of two catalogues one „Gabrijel Jurkić“ published by the Franciscan Monastery Gorica from Livno in 1995 and another „Gabriel Jurkić“ published by the Franciscan Museum and Art Gallery Gorica – Livno in 2008. The text by Josip Depolo, which appears in both catalogues, is given with two different versions of the name.

So, what is the correct form?

The certificate of baptism? Do you know the Christian name of Mica Todorović or that the certificate of baptism of Vlaho Bukovac does not bear that name?

Signature? A man should know his own name. He should, but we should also have in mind the fact that many of our painters, during their studies in Vienna and Munich, „Germanized“ their names when signing paintings. Typical example is Paja Jovanović. While Jurkić did not even need to Germanize his.

Brother Mirko? He should know the name of his brother.

Wife Štefa?

So, there are two versions of Jurkić’s name, both used and both still in use. It is up to you to decide whether you want to use European (western) or Slavic one, which is closer to place and time the author lived in.

Neither of them is wrong, neither of them is correct.

Or to paraphrase Shakespeare: Whichever name we called its author Blooming Plateau would smell the same.