Čikoš Bela Sesija

(Osijek, 1864 – Zagreb, 1931)

He studied at the Academy in Vienna (1887 – 1891), where he specialized in historical painting (1891/1892) under Leopold C. Müller. He continued his specialization in Munich under Wilhelm Lindenschmitt (1892/1893). A study visit in the area around Naples (1893/1894) influenced his work and in that time a series of plein air vedute and marinas was created. Upon his arrival to Zagreb, he begins his cooperation with Vlaho Bukovac (1894). He is one of the co-founders of the Society of Croatian Artists (1897). With M.K. Crnčić he opens a private painting school in Zagreb in 1903, which in 1907 grew into the College of Arts and Crafts, and later to the Academy of Fine Arts. Member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts (JAZU) since 1919.