Meštrović Gallery

The Ivan Meštrović Gallery in Split is an art museum dedicated to the work of the important 20th-century Croatian sculptor. The building itself, a villa on the Marjan peninsula overlooking the Adriatic, was built between 1931 and 1939 to the artist's own designs. Originally conceived as a family residence, studio, and exhibition space, it served the family until 1941. After the artist donated the property and numerous works to the state in 1952, the gallery was founded. Following a comprehensive renovation, which also repaired the damage left by the War of Independence in the 1990s, the new permanent exhibition opened in 1998. The site is regarded as an artwork in its own right, since the architecture and the surroundings are closely tied to Meštrović's creative output.

Today the collection includes more than a hundred sculptures in marble, bronze, and wood, as well as numerous drawings, architectural plans, and pieces of furniture. The permanent exhibition spans two floors and an outdoor area with a sculpture garden. On the ground floor, a central hall with large marble sculptures that echo the stone facade greets you. The western dining room preserves the authentic character of the artist's home, with original furniture and portraits. An eastern hall is devoted to religious works, a recurring theme in Meštrović's output. Upstairs you'll find early works from the Secession period as well as sculptures from the interwar years. One special room is dedicated to the theme of Job.

Near the villa, the restored Kaštelet-Crikvine chapel houses a series of wooden wall panels carved by Meštrović. The gallery also holds extensive archives of letters, manuscripts, and photographs that offer insight into the master's life and artistic milieu. Here you experience not only the artworks but also the historic atmosphere of the place, where the original function as a home and workplace has been woven into the museum presentation.