Stanislav Rapotec


Stanislav Ivan Rapotec was an Australian artist. He was born in Trieste when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1918 he moved with his family to Ljubljana, part of the newly created Yugoslavia. After military training as a reserve officer, he began his career with the National Bank of Yugoslavia in Split where he also developed his skill as an artist.

Early life

Stanislav Rapotec was born in Trieste in 1913, however he grew up in Ljubljana as his family moved there during 1918. He studied economics at the University of Zagreb from 1933 to 1939. In 1939, he moved to Split, where he worked at a bank. He decided to take up painting during this time.

World War II

Rapotec was mobilized into the Royal Yugoslav Army before the invasion of Yugoslavia by Germany and Italy on 6 April 1941. Rapotec was taken prisoner by the Germans, but subsequently escaped to Split controlled by the Italian army. Rapotec escaped to Split, where he fought for the Yugoslavian government in exile. He had also visited Jerusalem, where he met Julian Amery of the British Special Operations Executive. In January 1942, he covertly returned to Split. Žarko Todorović, the leader of the Chetnik resistance, also organized radio communication between Rapotec and Draža Mihailović. He spent April to June of that year in Zagreb. During this time he met with the Archbishop of Zagreb Aloysius Stepinac five times. Later in July, he went back to the middle eastern region. He was feared lost by the allies. He has traveled from Split to Mostar to Zagreb to Belgrade, and finally to Turkey.

Life as a painter

After the war, Stanislav moved to Adelaide, Australia, where he started to paint again. In 1955, he moved to Sydney. He started using his name in Latinized form. In 1961, he won Blake Prize for Religious Art. He was a member of the group of Sydney-based abstract artists called the Sydney 9. After his wife, Andree, had died, he traveled and painted all across Europe. He died in Sydney due a stroke in 1997.

Legacy

Stanislav Rapotec is famous for his art works, which are all exhibited in London, Rome, Paris, and the U.S.. He also is known for his famous quote, "To become an artist, you must have a life rich with experience, a strong desire to express yourself, a will strong enough to carry out this desire, and ... talent,".