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Marko Čelebonović
- November 21, 1902
- July 23, 1986
- 83 years
About Marko Čelebonović
Marko Čelebonović, 83, Yugoslav painter.
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Full Biography
|Marko Čelebonović (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Челебоновић; 21 November 1902 – 23 June 1986) was a Serbian painter. Čelebonović was one of the most famous Serbian painters of the 20th century.
Biography
Čelebonović was born in Belgrade. He studied law and economics in England and France. His first public exhibition was in Paris in 1925. Before World War II he resided in Saint Tropez. During the years of war, he was a member of the French Resistance. After the war he returned to Yugoslavia and from 1948 to 1960, he was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. During this time, he had numerous shows in Paris, Belgrade, Zürich, Geneva, Sarajevo, Skopje and Niš, as well as taking part in a number of collective shows of French painters in France and Italy, and in Yugoslav exhibitions in France, England, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Brazil. In 1963 he was awarded the "7th July" prize for life's work.
In the spring of 1923, upon his return from England, he appeared at the free Paris school Grande Chaumière in the studio of Antoine Bourdelle, with the intention of devoting himself to sculpture. However, already in summer 1923 he began painting in his own studio and from then on completely devoted himself to painting. In May 1925 he exhibited for the first time in the Salon des Tuileries, and in June he left for Saint Tropez. He worked with many colleagues including, most notably, Édouard Vuillard, Paul Signac, Albert Marquet, André Dunoyer de Segonzac, and Kostia Terechkovitch. For this reason, his art bears many a characteristic of French painting and French tradition. Much of Čelebonović's work is parallel to the tradition exhibited by the 1930 generation of French artists. However, be nonetheless maintained a more Balkan and Oriental tone in his works. Čelebonović's best works are characterized by an Oriental touch, Oriental preference for ripeness and violence of color, such as the meaning of silence and its light, of gentle restrained gesture, the weight of the seated or lying human body. The rational element is present in his painting, but always submerged under authentic affective attitude to life.
Although he spent his years in France, he was always closely attached to the Yugoslav painters who occasionally visited France (Sreten Stojanović, Marino Tartaglia, Petar Lubarda). In 1937 he had his first independent show in Belgrade, and in 1938 he exhibited with the Twelve group. In those years he occasionally visited Yugoslavia, painted in Belgrade and on the Montenegrin Littoral, visited medieval monasteries and was an active presence in the art of the period. In his later years, Celebonovic quoted "My life and work have been determined by my attitude towards Yugoslavia. I have linked the fate of my art with Yugoslav painting. How one grows and attains maturity is a question apart. The influence of French painting upon myself and others is natural enough. After all, who has ever been free from influence?
His decorations and awards include: award for painting at the first memorial of Nadežda Petrović in Čačak, the 7th of July award for life achievement, golden plaque for painting at the third triennial of visual arts in Belgrade, Order of brotherhood and unity, Order of merit to the people, Order of labour and Order of the Republic with golden wreath.
An exhibition featuring his selected works was opened in the Gallery of SANU in early 2019.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marko_%C4%8Celebonovi%C4%87
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 23, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Marko Čelebonović's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was the painter Marko Čelebonović born?
- A.Paris
- B.Sarajevo
- C.Belgradecorrect
- D.Saint Tropez
The biography states that Marko Čelebonović was born in Belgrade.
Source: Biography section
2.What subjects did Marko Čelebonović study in England and France?
- A.Fine arts and sculpture
- B.Law and economicscorrect
- C.Architecture and design
- D.Philosophy and history
Marko Čelebonović studied law and economics during his time in England and France.
Source: Biography section
3.When did Marko Čelebonović hold his first public exhibition?
- A.1948
- B.1923
- C.1925correct
- D.1937
Marko Čelebonović's first public exhibition took place in Paris in 1925.
Source: Biography section
4.What was Marko Čelebonović's initial professional ambition when he joined Antoine Bourdelle's studio in 1923?
- A.Law
- B.Painting
- C.Teaching
- D.Sculpturecorrect
Marko Čelebonović attended the Grande Chaumière studio with the intention of devoting himself to sculpture before turning to painting.
Source: Biography section
5.Where did Marko Čelebonović reside before the outbreak of World War II?
- A.Geneva
- B.Zürich
- C.Saint Tropezcorrect
- D.Belgrade
The text confirms that Marko Čelebonović resided in Saint Tropez before World War II.
Source: Biography section
6.What group was Marko Čelebonović a member of during the years of World War II?
- A.French Resistancecorrect
- B.The Twelve group
- C.The Academy of Fine Arts
- D.The SANU gallery committee
During the war, Marko Čelebonović was a member of the French Resistance.
Source: Biography section
7.At which institution did Marko Čelebonović serve as a professor between 1948 and 1960?
- A.The French Academy of Art
- B.Academy of Fine Arts in Belgradecorrect
- C.Gallery of SANU
- D.Grande Chaumière in Paris
Marko Čelebonović was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade from 1948 to 1960.
Source: Biography section
8.Which of these painters is explicitly mentioned as a colleague of Marko Čelebonović?
- A.Édouard Vuillardcorrect
- B.Sreten Stojanović
- C.Antoine Bourdelle
- D.Nadežda Petrović
The text lists Édouard Vuillard as one of the colleagues Marko Čelebonović worked with.
Source: Biography section
9.What specific tonal qualities are described as characteristic of Marko Čelebonović's work?
- A.Minimalist and Cold
- B.Abstract and Modernist
- C.Balkan and Orientalcorrect
- D.Renaissance and Classical
Despite French influences, Marko Čelebonović's works maintained a more Balkan and Oriental tone.
Source: Biography section
10.When did Marko Čelebonović have his first independent show in Belgrade?
- A.1938
- B.1923
- C.1963
- D.1937correct
Marko Čelebonović held his first independent show in Belgrade in 1937.
Source: Biography section
11.Which group did Marko Čelebonović exhibit with in 1938?
- A.The Surrealist circle
- B.The Twelve groupcorrect
- C.The Academy group
- D.The French Resistance painters
Marko Čelebonović exhibited with the Twelve group in 1938.
Source: Biography section
12.What award did Marko Čelebonović receive in 1963?
- A.7th July prizecorrect
- B.Order of the Republic
- C.Order of Labour
- D.Golden plaque for painting
Marko Čelebonović was awarded the 7th July prize for life's work in 1963.
Source: Biography section
13.Where was an exhibition of selected works by Marko Čelebonović opened in 2019?
- A.Gallery of SANUcorrect
- B.Saint Tropez
- C.The Twelve group gallery
- D.Academy of Fine Arts
An exhibition featuring his selected works was opened in the Gallery of SANU in early 2019.
Source: Biography section
14.Marko Čelebonović was born on which date?
- A.1 May 1925
- B.21 November 1902correct
- C.23 June 1986
- D.7 July 1937
The text states that Marko Čelebonović was born on 21 November 1902.
Source: Biography section
15.What professional title is Marko Čelebonović primarily identified by?
- A.Sculptor
- B.Paintercorrect
- C.Economist
- D.Lawyer
Marko Čelebonović is introduced as a Serbian painter.
Source: Biography section
16.Marko Čelebonović died in which year?
- A.1960
- B.1963
- C.1986correct
- D.2019
The biographical dates provided in the text indicate that Marko Čelebonović died in 1986.
Source: Biography section
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