Branding the ‘Father of Croatian Literature’ 500 years on
- by croatiaweek
- in News
ZAGREB, 10 Dec (Hina/CW) – A thematic conference “Marko Marulić – 500 years later” was held at the National and University Library in Zagreb on Thursday ahead of the 500th anniversary of Marulić’s death, and it focused on the “father of Croatian literature” from the perspective of language, literature and as a potential brand.
Marulić was born in Split, whee he lived most of his life, apart from time studying law in Italy and two years on the island of Šolta. In Split, Marulić practised law, serving as a judge, examinator of notarial entries and executor of wills.
Marulić’ is renowned for writing “Judita,” the first book by a Croatian author written in the Croatian language. It was written in 1501 and published in Venice in 1521. It was the bestseller of its time, translated into many languages.
During Marulić’s life, it ran through as many as three printings in 18 months. The only surviving copy of the third edition is held at the Bavarian State Library in Munich.
Illustrated page from the second edition of Judita written and illustrated by Croatian rennaisance writer Marko Marulić, published in Zadar, May 1522 (Photo: Public Domain/CC)
The conference in Zagreb, which is an introduction to the anniversary year dedicated to Marko Marulić, was organised by the Institute of Croatian Language and Linguistics, the Matica Hrvatska cultural association and the National and University Library (NSK).
Ivica Poljičak, an envoy of the minister of culture, underscored the importance of Marulić’s work and the power it carries for identity and all of us even today.
The director of the Institute of Croatian Language and Linguistics, Željko Jozić, said that next year, Marulić’s legacy will come to the fore, and already on 5 January, the day of his death, a series of content related to his work will be published on the website.
Marko Marulić monument in Knin (Photo credit: August Dominus/CC BY-SA 4.0)
“He is such an inexhaustible source that he requires an encyclopaedia of everything related to him,” he added.
NSK director Ivanka Stričević said that Marulić was known and respected throughout Europe, he had been read by many esteemed people, and the diversity of his oeuvre was one of the reasons that we always returned to him as scientists, artists and institutions in promoting his legacy.
Communication expert Božo Skoko said that Marko Marulić was behind other European writers, such as Shakespeare, in terms of branding.
“Countries, like corporations that brand their products, promote their greats and cultures, invest serious money in turning them into global icons not only through works, but also through souvenirs, tourist tours of their birthplaces, museums, and big anniversaries in particular served as a start for that,” he noted.
Marko Marulić bust (Photo: Direktor/CC0 Public Domain)
Marulić’s portrait was depicted on the Croatian 500 kuna banknote and also the Order of Danica Hrvatska, a Croatian state decoration awarded for special merits for culture, is ornamented with his face.
