Dositej Obradović

Novak Radonić (1826 - 1890), along with Đura Jakšić and Stevan Todrović, was the most completely educated Serbian artist of the Romantic era. In addition to national-historical and allegorical themes, he distinguished himself as a highly sought-after portraitist. These works, as well as a couple of self-portraits, are featured by the importance of color, the use of blue-gray shades and night lighting. Novak Radonić's literary work remained in the shadow of his paintings. In the published texts, his social engagement and knowledge of world social and cultural history are noticeable, with a touch of Dositej's enlightening spirit and moral lessons intended for readers. One of Radonić's portraits is the portrait of the Serbian writer, philosopher, educator and first Minister of Education, Dositej Obradović. It is possible that it was modeled on Dositej's portrait, the work of the painter Arsenije Teodorović from 1819.