law proclamation serbian given seven versions composition painted depict mighty introducing serbia earliest surviving law subjects commissioned version intending displayed following year exposition world fair paris originally commissioned painting intended depict coronation emperor serbia consulting politician historian decided painting scene coronation opted depict proclamation law instead painting erroneously described depicting coronation paid great deal attention historical detail preparation work visiting medieval serbian orthodox monasteries macedonia studying medieval costumes weaponry consulting experts period version finished time world fair received widespread critical acclaim awarded gold medal fair artistic committee opinion art historian artistic committee decision affirmed painting par works world greatest visual artists number historians critics consider law finest works felt painting beautiful composition serbia powerful rulers century oversaw establishment large serbian state stretched danube greek mainland result achievements serbian historiography referred mighty recognition expansion serbia territory second recognition law introduced reign commonly called king serbs coast added king romans title late began referring emperor serbia april assembly attended archbishop bulgarian patriarch religious leaders assembly performed raising status archbishop titled serbian patriarch seat monastery subsequently crowned emperor serbia new patriarch ambitions conquering byzantine lands including constantinople proclaiming order achieve goal knew needed secure loyalty greek subjects decreed lands inhabited greeks greek governors follow traditional byzantine laws opposed serbian customary law effect reducing tensions serbs greeks easier serbs occupy greek lands considerable threat revolt issued national legal code capital applied northern half empire serbs serbia earliest surviving legal code influenced heavily byzantine law advanced legal texts time wide ranging set laws covers specific crimes likely legal document included law code probably intended supplement texts touching issues covered serve stand legal system painting preparation composition late 1890s serbia invited participate exposition world fair paris created special committee select serbs france representatives country committee chaired politician decided serbia contribution fair predominantly consist art displayed building byzantine style designed architect serbian works displayed grand rules fair art exhibit held canvas measure centimetres contain seventy figures complex positions serbia period marked patriotic literature theatre visual art serbian artists competed produce best depictions serbia medieval history best serbian national romantic art time prominent artists day known historical works special committee hired compose scene depicting coronation displayed paris return services received government felt essential work serbian artists received given decades political instability balkans authorities sought promote positive image country abroad especially western europeans serbian art painting dual audience domestic foreign foremost goal emphasize legitimacy serbia contemporary territorial claims great powers especially regard macedonia divided ottoman_empire austria-hungary counter negative views serbian state domestic audience goal remind serbia rich history encourage patriotic sentiments consulting politician historian decided painting scene coronation opted depict proclamation code instead result painting mistakenly referred serbian began working painting keeping usual approach spent significant time researching life read medieval accounts proclamation consulted experts historical period examined medieval paintings illuminated manuscripts insight architecture weaponry 14th century serbia visited monasteries cities church proclamation took place long destroyed forced find alternative ultimately deciding model monastery given similarities design admission hardest task faced achieving authenticity regard clothing weaponry medieval found medieval clothing particularly difficult reproduce serbs national costume time instead medieval serbs especially royalty nobility wore clothing greatly influenced neighbouring cultures particularly byzantines styled clothes seen painting medieval monasteries visited requested head costume designer vienna state opera recreate based sketches receiving costumes placed studio models painting german mercenaries shown lining church doors church exits wear venetian body armour based detail medieval correspondence discovered venetian archives recorded having ordered units plate armour venice knights swords weaponry based depictions medieval depicted shields insignia figures based examples medieval book titled found book library removed monastery decades prior brought austro hungarian capital painted outdoors air description history painting depicts exiting church wife son shortly announcing law force patriarch magnate members clergy nobility emperor entourage watched crowd nobles knights knights lower swords feet sign respect submission atmosphere scene noble reads proclamation crowd german mercenary oversaw personal bodyguard stands far right row knights watches closely emperor steps outside art historian writes technically artist brought accumulation considerable study experience painter history portrait genre scenes typical orderly composition perfect point linear perspective appropriate subject informed renaissance figure foreground middle ground directs eye steadily point control dignity majesty brilliantly clothed entourage frames form massive stone walls church lend stability intimate shared god inspired architecture reign complete painting presented contract granted government right print painting felt painting beautiful composition displeased able complete way originally envisaged originally intended finished work painted woven version went display paris oil canvas meant use model painting later recalled king alexander away money promised provide painting completion disappointed pledged liking begin work revision time went complete total seven different versions painting lifetime version possession belgrade measuring centimetres permanent display critical reception legacy received serbian public said exceeded expectations government ministers received france named officer des painting met critical acclaim world fair fair artistic committee awarded gold medal work way decision art historian asserts paris committee recognized painting par world best visual artists serbian painter art critic described compositions crown serbian art lauded best work ranks best paintings alongside focusing famed reign writes making case respect serbia regarded painting argues history lesson patriotic declaration serbian audiences particular continues alluded greatness serbia past implied country restoration free modern nation reach opinion inherently optimistic work journalist specializing balkans compares contribution serbian art contribution french art draws parallels coronation napoleon professor historian specializing serbian culture describes knights armour highly stylized direct result figures resemble hollywood actors medieval knights picture shows excellent conception composition art historian contends figures related attitudes studied costumes represented greatest care detail
The Proclamation of Dušan's Law Codex