Branko Popović (painter)

Branko Popović (15 January 1882 – 27 November 1944) was a Serbian painter, art critic, professor and dean of the Engineering Faculty at the University of Belgrade. He was also an accomplished architect.

Biography He was born in Užice to Femka and Stojan Popović, founder of the first blanket factory in Užice. While still a young man, Branko Popović entered Belgrade's public and artistic life. When the First Yugoslav Art Exhibition was held in 1904, He also exhibited at joint exhibitions in Paris (1919), Philadelphia (1926), Barcelona (1928), London (1930), Rome (1937) and at the 22nd Venice Biennale (1940).

He participated in the Balkan Wars, was wounded at Kumanovo, and also participated in the Great War. As an officer of the VII Infantry Regiment, he received the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Medal for Bravery (1912) in the First Balkan War and a Medal for Bravery for the Second Balkan War and the French Cross of the Legion of Honour with palm trees in World War I. He was elected assistant professor at the faculty of engineering in 1914. He was an architect and between two wars one of the most famous Serbian painters. On the eve of World War II, he was dean of the faculty of engineering in Belgrade. His entire assets were confiscated by the communists. Painter Đorđe Andrejević-Kun moved into his apartment and studio at Knez Mihailova 24.

In 2007, following a ruling by the Belgrade District Court, he was rehabilitated. Exhibitions of his works were organized: 1996 in Belgrade (at the SANU Gallery), 1996 in Novi Sad (at the art salon of the SANU branch), 2004 in Uzice (at the City Gallery) and 2011, on February 10, 2011, at the RTS Gallery and in Zrenjanin at the National Museum, August 25, 2011.

Personal life He was married to Divna, née Naunović, with whom he had three sons: Simeon, an architect, Prijezda, a lawyer, and Borivoje, a TV journalist. Portrait of Divna (B. Popović's wife) from 1925. Branko Popović: Devojka u prirodi (The Girl in Nature, 1910). Branko Popović: Dr. X (1912). Branko Popović: Akt. Branko Popović: Korčula u Dalmacijičula in Dalmatia, 1925–1926). Branko Popović: Manastir Sveti Naum (St. Naum Monastery, 1931).