(Sremski Karlovci 1811–1876 Belgrade) Portrait of one of Stevan Petrovic Knicanin’s Sisters (1807–1855) circa 1850, oil on canvas, 96 x 75 cm, framed, restored, (Rei)

Counterpart to lot 151; Compare: Exhibition catalogue, Galerie Jovan Popovic, Uros Knezevic (1811–1876), Opovo 1972, Ill. 23ff. Provenance: Private German property; Uros Knezevic: The artist was a pupil of a certain Danijil in Temesvar. In order to earn money he painted portraits of the Serbian nobility and prominent citizens. He also decorated the walls of Belgrade’s churches and painted icons. He was finally able to afford to study at the Vienna Academy and his work was exhibited in Vienna in 1846.
Stevan Knicanin (Knic 1807–1855 Belgrade), During the rule of of Milos Obrenovic, Knicanin became a commissioner of the Jasenica municipality and, in 1839, a commissioner of the Semederevo district. As a supporter of the ustavobranitelji (the defenders of the constitution) he was expelled from Serbia in 1840/41. From 1848 onwards Knicanin was a commander of the Serbian voluntary troops in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. Knicanin was able to apply his knowledge of military tactics in the battles near Pancevo and Vrsac, amongst others. After his return to Serbia in 1849 he was awarded the title of Voivode (prince). The village of Knicanin in the Serbian province of Vojvodina was named in his honour.