The most prominent Croatian sculptor of the 20th century studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he met the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who greatly influenced him.

In 1905, Meštrović created the first masterpiece from his early phase, Zdenac života (“Well of Life”, today in front of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb). After the First World War, Meštrović created a large number of monumental sculptures placed in public spaces, such as Grgur Ninski (“Gregory of Nin”) in Split and Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Zagreb, as well as the “overseas” Equestrian Indians placed in Grant Park in Chicago and the sculptures Supplicant Persephone and Job at Syracuse University in New York.

Povijest Hrvata (“History of the Croats”) is one of Meštrović’s most famous sculptures. It depicts a female figure as a guardian of national heritage, holding in her lap a stone tablet, with the title of the work written in the Glagolitic script; a bronze cast stands in front of the Rectorate building of the University of Zagreb. During his lifetime, Meštrović exhibited his works in many cities in Europe and beyond (e.g. the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Metropolitan in New York etc.). The famous Croatian sculptor Antun Augustinčić, whose Peace monument was erected in 1954 in front of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, studied under Meštrović. Before his death, Meštrović bequeathed to the Croatian people numerous works of art, his houses and studios in Zagreb and Split, as well as the family tomb in Otavice (today the Ivan Meštrović Museums). He died in the United States of America, and was buried in the family tomb in Otavice.

*Auguste Rodin, early 20th century