In keeping with the practice of preserving cultural heritage, inaugurated with the opening of the National Assembly to the public, a special news conference was held today at the National Assembly to mark the end of work on the restoration of a painting that had been walled up in the Assembly’s press room for over 50 years.

Addressing the journalists, deputies, and support service employees present, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Predrag Markovic, said that the “discovery” of the painting had begun on 22 April, based on information provided to Mr Markovic by Professor Dr Djordje Stankovic. It had been assumed that the painting, by Ivan Tisov, represented a portrait of Nikola Pasic with members of his cabinet. However, when the wall was removed, what emerged turned out to be a depiction of the unification of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, on 1 December 1918. The painting shows the Prince Regent, Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, being read the “Address” by Dr Ante Pavelic, with the leading political figures of the day present. All members of the public and journalists visiting the National Assembly that day as part of the “Open Door” programme had the privilege of seeing the painting. Ljubica Miljkovic, Curator at the National Museum in Belgrade, confirmed that the painting was indeed the work of Ivan Tisov, dating from 1924, and explained that the oil on canvas painting was varnished and applied to the wall, as well that its restoration should not take long, as the damage was not great. The Assembly’s support services and the conservators from the National Museum reached agreement, and the restoration commenced on 19 September, finishing on 1 December.

Mr Markovic underlined that the press room was part of the building at 16 Kralja Milana St, where the Government of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia used to meet. It too, like all states, created its iconographic background for the future, and it too is part of our history. As a mark of respect for its tradition, the National Assembly strove to finish restoring the painting on 1 December, and thus, symbolically, make it available to the public on the 87^th anniversary of the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which the image actually depicts. Mr Markovic thanked the journalists for their understanding and patience, as the work was going on in the room they had to work in, also expressed his gratitude to the support services engaged in this task.

The painting was restored by the National Museum’s Art Restoration Studio; the project was headed by Sofija Kajtez, while conservators Kristina Horijak, Ivan Pavic, Miroslav Rankovic, and Ana Pavlovic took part in the restoration. The entire process cost 500,784 dinars (conservation work – 275,000 dinars, restoration materials and tools – 137,000, dinars, additional equipment – 51,064 dinars, and restoration documentation – 36,875 dinars).