Ambroz Janez Tasten | |
---|---|
Born | 31 August 1897 |
Died | 7 January 1984 |
Nationality | Slovene |
Notable work | Dvije duše razgovaraju (Two souls talking) Križni put (Stations of the Cross) |
Style | watercolor painting |
Movement | expressionism [1] [2] |
Ambroz Janez Testen (31 August 1897 – 7 January 1984) was franciscan and Croatian expressionistic painter of Slovenian descent. [3]
He was born in village Loka pri Mengšu near Kamnik in northern Slovenia. He moved to Croatia as a teenager to become a Franciscan. His monk name was Benedict. [4]
Before World War I he lived in a monastery on Košljun, a tiny island near Krk. He fought on Italian Front in Tirol and Duchy of Styria. [4] After World War I, in 1920, he deserted and escape to Dubrovnik where he took the name Ambroz. [1]
He lived two years in Cavtat monastery, where he learned painting from Vlaho Bukovac, [2] famous Croatian painter who had his workroom there. [1] [4]
He also learned watercolor painting from Maksimilijan Vanka. [2] In 1929 he moved to Pelješac, where he got to know Celestin Medović. [4]
From 1939 to 1961 he lived in a monastery on island Krapanj then in St.Bernardine monastery in Kampor on island Rab where he painted a lot of his famous works. Since 1989. there is a permanent exhibition of his works there. After World War II, he shortly lived in Šibenik.
He died in Zadar on 7 January 1984. [2]