At the end of October, in the ceremonial setting of the courtyard of the Marko Marulić IV Grammar School in Split, the sculpture “Judith” was unveiled, becoming one of the most significant recent works by sculptor Lovre Jakšić. This public sculpture was created to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the publication of Judita by Marko Marulić, the first artistic epic of Croatian literature written in the Croatian language and one of the most important works of the nation’s cultural heritage.
The sculpture stands two metres tall and is carved in our workshop from the finest white Brač stone from the Sveti Petar quarry, one of the most highly valued materials in Croatian stonemasonry tradition. The choice of this stone gives the work particular significance, as it is a material that has shaped the identity of Brač, Croatian sculpture, and architecture for centuries. As a sculpture made of white Brač stone, “Judith” represents a harmonious fusion of exceptional material, contemporary artistic expression, and rich cultural symbolism.
The creation of this large-scale sculpture took almost two months. Photographs from the workshop reveal the entire process, from the first rough cuts in a massive stone block to the final refinement of the surface and details. Lovre Jakšić began by defining the primary volumes and gradually developed the elegant silhouette of the female figure. One of the sculpture’s distinctive qualities lies in the artist’s treatment of the stone surface. Certain areas remain rustic and roughly carved, while others are carefully smoothed and refined. This contrast creates rhythm and dynamism, adding further expressiveness to the work.
According to the artist, his intention was not to produce a literal historical representation of Judith, but rather to create a contemporary figure that embodies elements of classical beauty and timeless elegance. The form is reduced to its essential volumes, free from unnecessary detail, allowing the strength of the composition and the natural beauty of the stone to take centre stage. For this reason, the monumental sculpture feels both contemporary and deeply rooted in tradition.
From a sculptural perspective, “Judith” clearly reflects Lovre Jakšić’s distinctive artistic language. Lines flow gently across the figure, while the textured surface evokes waves, wind, or the marks left by time upon stone. The artist often remarks that every stone possesses its own “melody,” and this idea can be felt throughout the sculpture in the interplay between rough and polished surfaces, creating a unique dialogue of light and shadow.
The project was successfully realised thanks in large part to the dedication of Nediljko Matić and the association “Hrvatsko zajedništvo” from Zagreb. The sculpture was officially unveiled by Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban, in the presence of numerous distinguished guests, including actress Anja Šovagović-Despot and Tomislav Đonlić, Head of the Administrative Department for Education, Culture, Technical Culture, and Sport.
With the installation of “Judith,” Split has gained another valuable public sculpture, one that connects literature, sculpture, and cultural heritage. As a monumental sculpture in white Brač stone, the work stands as a lasting tribute to Marko Marulić and his Judita, while also demonstrating the vitality of contemporary Croatian sculpture and its ability to tell stories of identity, history, and culture through stone.
It is a great honour to be part of a project that so successfully brings together Croatian literary heritage, public space, and the centuries-old stonemasonry tradition of Brač. The sculpture “Judith” remains a permanent symbol of Split’s cultural memory and another important contribution to Lovre Jakšić’s body of work in the field of monumental stone sculpture.
