Contribution to the study of Dičić family works: Iconpainting in the church of St. Nicholas in the Končul monastery near Raška

• Main Author: Ženarju-Rajović Ivana S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Serbian Culture Priština, Leposavić 2018-01-01
• Series: Baština
• Subjects: dičići; raško-prizrenska eparchy; monastery of končul; iconpainting; zograph painting
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0353-9008/2018/0353-90081846393Z.pdf
• ISSN: 0353-9008; 2683-5797

The study of the icon paintings in the Končul monastery is part of the research and attempts to attribute works of the church art in the Raška-Prizren Eparchy, which are brought into connection with the Dičić's family. Famous painter Avram Dičić, who was popular throughout the Balkans, was often engaged in the Raška-Prizren Eparchy between 1870 and 1876 and at the very beginning of the 20th century. He worked in 1901 and 1902 near the Končul monastery, in Novi Pazar, Štitare, Štitkovo, Mitrova Reka, Lukovo, and Vračevo. A large number of icons in these churches, along with iconographical details and painters inscriptions, indicate a multitude of painters. For the church of St Nicholas in Končul near Raška, in the early 20th century, most probably in 1902, members of the Dičić family painted icons for the iconostasis, icon of the Holy Trinity, the altar cross, and the figures of the Holy Archangel Michael and St Basil the Great in shallow niches above the entrance to the nave. Inscriptions such as 'Avram Dičić with sons' in Štitare, and 'Dičić's brothers' in Štitkovo, suggest that brothers are actually sons of Avram. It is known that Avram learned painting from his father Dičo, as well as his brother Spiridon, with whom he decorated the church in Donje Korminjane. They had 6 more siblings, but we had no records of their engagement in church art. Avram himself had four children, out of which we can only say for Krsta that he was a painter. He lived until 1939, signed his name as Krsta Avramov Dičić, and was often engaged in southern Serbia. His works indicate great resemblance with his fathers' work, as well as the same iconographic patterns. Dičić brothers also signed icons in several villages in south Serbia, which is why there is a reasonable assumption that another of Avram's children was involved in the family business. This assumption could also be applied to the children of Avram's brothers, but we know nothing about them.