Croatian Greats

S2 E1 • 3/25/2018

Ivan Meštrović

The most esteemed Croatian great of the 20th century is undoubtedly the sculptural genius and architect Ivan Meštrović. *Gregory of Nin* in Split and the *Fountain of Life* in Zagreb are just a fraction of nearly 3,000 sculptures he created in his lifetime and scattered across the world. We followed the itinerary of this “wonder from Vlaj”: from his native Otavice, where he hung out with sheep, to worldwide fame and coffee with King Alexander, Eisenhower, Rodin, and Stepinac. Why can we call him Croatia’s greatest donor? Why did he end up in a Ustaše prison, and who saved him from execution at the last moment? Why was he called the Michelangelo of his time? Find out in the new episode of Croatian Greats.