Martin Stier, 1660.
A view of Karlobag in ruins following its destruction by the Venetian General Tiepolo. Created as part of the documentation of the coastal fortifications of the Littoral.
Source: Austrian National Library (ÖNB) in Vienna.
Karlobag through the eyes of cartographers, draftsmen, and painters
In this gallery, you can see how Karlobag looked historically and through the eyes of famous cartographers and draftsmen, such as Martin Stier, M.T., Ivan Tišov, and others.
Martin Stier, 1660.
A view of Karlobag in ruins following its destruction by the Venetian General Tiepolo. Created as part of the documentation of the coastal fortifications of the Littoral.
Source: Austrian National Library (ÖNB) in Vienna.
Unknown artist, circa 1840.
A view of the Church of St. Charles Borromeo and the Fortica fortress. A testament to the urban and sacral design of the town in the 19th century.
Source: Austrian National Library (ÖNB) in Vienna.
Franjo Vjekoslav Kružić, circa 1851.
A panoramic view of Karlobag (Franz Alois Kruxich), detailed and recorded in the mid-nineteenth century.
Source: Croatian State Archives (HDA) in Zagreb, inv. no. 1805.
Unknown artist, 1870.
A man in traditional folk costume from the Velebit region, featuring the recognizable red cap, resting by traditional stone architecture.
Source: historyarchive.org
Initials M.T., 1884.
Karlobag, viewed from the sea. A depiction of the harmony between the natural landscape, coastal architecture, and the historical remains of the Fortica fortress.
Source: hr.wikipedia.org
Initials M.T., 1884. (Version)
Karlobag viewed from the sea during a period when the town was rapidly developing into a peaceful, commercial coastal center at the foot of the mountain.
Source: Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral, Rijeka.
Ivan Tišov, 1902.
This 1902 drawing by Ivan Tišov depicts Karlobag's main square, dominated by the statue of Baron Anton Mollinary. The work captures the town's urban features at the turn of the 20th century and serves as a valuable document of changes in public space and the culture of remembrance. Tišov's precise illustrative style highlights the architectural details of the square and the relationship between the monument and everyday life.
Source: "Die österreichisch-ungarische Monarchie in Wort und Bild".
Unknown artist, 1910.
A unique drawing on glass depicting the panorama and vista of Karlobag from the sea at the very beginning of the twentieth century.
Source: National Museum of the Czech Republic, Prague (inv. no. PS 4773).
Ugo Cleis, 1962.
Market in Karlobag. This oil on canvas painting depicts the lively atmosphere and daily life of the marketplace through the artist's eyes.
Source: Kunstkredit Collection, Switzerland (inv. no. K1.865).
Ruža Potočnjak, 1995.
This precise graphic from 1995 records the timeless encounter between Velebit and the sea. Through a play of lines and textures, the artist evokes the peaceful architecture of the town beneath the mighty mountain massif, creating a deep sense of connection between stone, history, and the Adriatic coast.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak, 1995.
This graphic faithfully portrays the heart of Karlobag as seen from the sea. The historic Hotel Velinac, a symbol of Karlobag's tourism and architecture, dominates the foreground, while the Braci waterfront with its recognizable lighthouse extends beyond it. The piece exudes the tranquility of a coastal town, capturing a moment where the harbor becomes a safe haven at the foot of Velebit.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak, 1995.
In the foreground of this striking graphic, Karlić's bracera (a traditional vessel) dominates, its masts cutting through the vista of Karlobag's harbor and giving the image a strong maritime character. Behind it, the massive slopes of Velebit rise proudly, serving as a reminder of the unbreakable bond between mountain and sea.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak, 1995.
This graphic displays the recognizable vista of Karlobag, where the long waterfront stretches across the foreground, featuring an old cannon standing proudly as a town symbol. The artist skillfully uses light and shadow to emphasize the peaceful atmosphere of a place where the mountain massif nearly meets the sea.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak (work from 2008)
This graphic shows the historical vista of the Karlobag waterfront based on its appearance in 1928. It is interesting to note that in this depiction, as in other old records from that era, the cannons—which later became town symbols after being placed in the 1960s—are not yet present on the waterfront.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak (work from 2008)
This work takes us further into the past, depicting Karlobag as it was in 1910. The composition offers a dynamic perspective from the coastal road leading toward the center of town, featuring human figures and horse-drawn carriages that evoke the slower rhythm of life at the beginning of the century.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak (work from 2008)
The focus of this graphic is on the old Karlobag harbor and its unbreakable connection to the sea. In the foreground are anchored wooden sailing ships whose masts intersect the vertical lines of the surrounding buildings, emphasizing the town's maritime tradition.
Source: Private archive of the author.
Ruža Potočnjak (work from 2008)
This graphic depicts the former appearance of Karlobag's main square, which was once dominated by a monument to Baron Anton Mollinary. An Austrian general and the last commander of the Military Frontier, Mollinary was highly esteemed in Karlobag for his contributions to the town's development.
Source: Private archive of the author.
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