Decorating of the Bride
Decorating of the Bride (Serbian: Кићење невесте, Kićenje neveste) is an oil painting by the Serbian artist Paja Jovanović. It shows a young Albanian bride in traditional attire being prepared for her upcoming marriage by the female members of her household. It is one of two compositions Jovanović painted on the subject; the other is considered lost.
| Decorating of the Bride | |
|---|---|
| Serbian: Kićenje neveste, Кићење невесте | |
| Artist | Paja Jovanović |
| Year | 1885–1888 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 96.5 cm × 136 cm (38.0 in × 54 in) |
| Location | National Museum of Serbia, Belgrade |
The painting was done between 1885 and 1888, during one of Jovanović's trips through the Balkans. It was painted for the French Gallery, with which Jovanović was under contract, and was well received by art critics and the public. It remained in the French Gallery's possession until 1893, when it was purchased by a London buyer. In 1935, the Yugoslav Ministry of Foreign Affairs purchased the work and bestowed it to the National Museum of Serbia, in whose possession it remains. In 2009, the painting began undergoing restoration.