Močilnik – the Source of the Ljubljanica

The Ljubljanica is called the river of seven springs; in the eyes of painters, each of them has several faces. Ladislav Benesch (Turk 1973, 110–119; Gröning 1994, 41–42: entry Benesch, Ladislaus von) was a military officer drawn by the world of drawing and painting as well as our country where, in addition to its natural and cultural beauties, he found his life's companion in Julija Pauer, niece of the director of the Carniolan Provincial Museum, Karl Dežman (1821–1889). He developed his attitude to the landscape under the influence of Austrian landscape painters, especially Edouard Peithner von Lichtenfels (1833–1913), characteristic for a blend of realistic approach and romantic atmosphere. This is also clear from Benesch's depiction of Močilnik (a) – most probably Veliki Močilnik, to be specific: with a small lake in the foreground, built up by the river dam, the Hudičeve stene rock face in the background and a sawmill between the two, which stands in the place of the present parking lot. The Print Room houses a pencil drawing, which the author may have drawn outdoors to the last detail, while the watercolour was rendered in the shelter of his studio on the basis of that model. The drawing is notable for its gentle, sunny colouring, breezy, playful atmosphere and interesting composition, centring on the wooden building in the middle.