Ambroz Janez Tasten | |
Birth Date: | 31 August 1897 |
Birth Place: | Loka pri Mengšu, Kamnik, Slovenia |
Death Date: | 7 January 1984 |
Death Place: | Zadar, Croatia |
Nationality: | Slovene |
Notable Works: | Dvije duše razgovaraju (Two souls talking) Križni put (Stations of the Cross) |
Style: | watercolor painting |
Movement: | expressionism |
Ambroz Janez Testen (31 August 1897 - 7 January 1984) was franciscan and Croatian expressionistic painter of Slovenian descent.[1]
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.[2]
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.[2] After World War I, in 1920, he deserted and escape to Dubrovnik where he took the name Ambroz.[3]
He lived two years in Cavtat monastery, where he learned painting from Vlaho Bukovac, famous Croatian painter who had his workroom there.[3] [2]
He also learned watercolor painting from Maksimilijan Vanka. In 1929 he moved to Pelješac, where he got to know Celestin Medović.[2]
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.[4]