Paja Jovanović: The proclamation of Dušan's Law Codex (1900)

 

(National Museum of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia)

A painting by the Serbian artist Paja Jovanović (1859-1957). This historical painting shows a scene from the coronation of tsar Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia. The painting shows the presentation of Dušan's Code, a compilation of several legal systems that were enacted by Dušan of Serbia in 1349 at the end of his coronation. The painting depicts Dušan exiting a church with his wife, Helena of Bulgaria, and son, Uroš (the future Saint tsar Stefan Uroš V of Serbia). The royal couple is surrounded by court officials, the Tsar's bodyguard and the Serbian archbishop and patriarch Joanikije II (1337-1354). Standing in front of Dušan is the noble Gojko Mrnjavčević who reads the proclamation before the crowd. The crowd is composed of nobles, knights and commoners. The knights lower their swords at Dušan's feet as a sign of respect and submission. The painting was commissioned by the Royal Serbian government for the Exposition Universelle in Paris where it was well-received. Painting of 1900.