A monument to the Serbian Duke Mihailo was made by an Italian who allegedly killed himself because of one mistake
When the monument was set at the Republic's square in 1882, the creator Enrico Pazzi was condemned by Serbian public because he did not make the hat on the duke's head. That was against all the rules from that age where every man had to have something on his head while outside - a hat, a cylinder, a cap. According to some conspiracy theories, the artist killed himself because of this
The monument to the Duke Mihailo is a symbol of Belgrade but of Serbia also, and there are not many people who did not take a photo of it.
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Still, many dark secrets are connected to it, even one alleged suicide.
Internet portal Telegraf.rs explains all the secrets of the monument many people call - "at the Horse!"
The famous monument is located at the Republic's square, the most well-known square in Belgrade, surrounded with the National theater, the Museum and other sights.
Right after the death of the Duke Mihailo Obrenović on May 29, 1868, a first draft for making a monument was drawn.
The first Serbian lithographer Anastas Jovanović took part in it.
In November 1873 a sculptor comes from Florence, Italy, by the name of Enrico Pazzi.
Enrico Pazzi was a strange figure.
Even though not many people know about him now, he was a honored sculptor of the time and he was the main author of the monument which is now one of the most recognizable elements of the capital city.
The sculptor was born in Florence in 1819.
He was the student of famous sculptors Sarti and Giovanni Dipre.
He was the representative of the Italian verism, and this art movement had the goal of presenting life the way it is, with its good and rough sides.
Pazzi was glorified for making the monument for the Italian writer Dante in 1865 in Florence.
The monument project was made by him and this was a big news in Serbia of that time.
Pazzi found the inspiration in Florence when looking at the two horse and rider monuments to Ferdinand Medici.
The posture of the horse and the rider gave him the idea for the monument in Belgrade.
The contract he had presented the way the horse and the rider will stand and dominate the whole city square, in front of the National theater.
During 1873, the first draft was made in stone and then it was poured in the foundry in Florence.
A copy of the monument is located in the National museum in the city of Kragujevac.
The actual work started in 1874 and in that period he spent almost a year in Belgrade.
While staying there, he spent most of his time with Anastas Jovanović.
As a token of gratitude towards him and his family, he made a marble bust of Anastas' daughter Katarina Jovanović.
This bust is located in the Belgrade City museum.
It was one of the first sculptures of children in Serbian art history.
At the end of his staying, Pazzi, nearly finished the sculpture and the pedestal.
Then, he went back to Florence where he continued working on fine details.
Due to the war the work had to be discontinued up until 1878, when Serbia became independent.
The work was finally finished in Munich in 1879 in the shop of Ferdiand von Muiller.
The stone postament was the idea of Anastas' son Konstantin Jovanović.
But since nothing goes smoothly in Belgrade, neither did this...
When the monument was presented in 1882, there were many people standing at the square who wanted to see it.
All the major people of the city wanted to see the monument dedicated to their beloved Duke, but a scandal also occurred.
Enrico Pazzi was there also when the monument was presented.
The king gave him the medal of the Knight of Takovo of the second degree.
After Pazzi went back to Italy, many people found it impertinent that the rider did not have a hat on his head which was obligatory in that time.
Namely, Duke Mihailo was presented without a cap, a hat, or a cylinder.
Back in that age, every man had to wear something on his head and not to have it was looked upon uncivilized and daring.
And the Italian sculptor presented the Duke just in that manner.
The town's people were merciless when gossiping was about.
That same night, women who were present said that Pazzi was so embarrassed that he committed suicide.
Extraordinary rhetorical art was present, because this story took the city by storm.
The truth was somewhat different.
Pazzi was given his money for the service, and he went back to Italy where he lived to see old age.
He grew to love Belgrade and its residents so much, that he gave his children Serbian names.
(Telegraf.co.uk / Source: Večernje novosti)
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