Julian
Julianus Secundus Pistor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1549 AD |
| Died | 30 February, 1601 AD |
| Other names | Julian |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Years active | 1566-1601 |
Notable work | Portrait of Marius Linus, Self Portrait, Portrait of Julia II |
| Spouse(s) | Adriana Pavelekh |
| Children | 7 |
Julianus Secundus Pistor, or simply known as Julian (c. 1549 - 30 February 1601), was a late sixteenth century Illyrian painter, who led the transition into Gothic Art in Illyricum. During his time, and even after his death, Julian was renowned as a highly talented artist, and his Neo-Gothic style influenced not only future Illyrian artists, but also many Ecrosian artists for years to come.
Contents
Early Life
Julian was born on the small Island of Dethos, which lay off the coast of Apollonia, as the son of a poor fisherman. Julian's birth year has been disputed, and is either 1546 or 1649, however most modern New Illyrian historians lean towards the latter date. Julian grew up helping his father fish, until 1562, when Julian's father was eaten by a shark while fishing. Julian's father's death forced the family into slavery to work off their debts.
Julian and his family spent a year working for Brutus Julius Fautus, a notorious gangster who had for years practically owned the Island of Dethos. Julian later described his year working under Brutus, in a letter to his friend, as being "Unforgiving and impractical." One night in late September Julian devised a plan to escape, which entailed him swimming 3 miles to the coast of Apollonia. He fled the house of Brutus and set out swimming that same night, however after swimming only 1 mile, Julian became exhausted, and began to turn back. Julian swam until, to quote the same letter to his friend, "I (Julian) collapsed into the sea, resigning myself to the fate of death." Julian washed up ashore near Vesevio, on the coast of Apollonia, the next morning, where he was found by the locals and nursed to health.
Career
Julian was taken in by prominent Illyrian painter, Marius Levesio, with whom Julian apprenticed for six years in Vesevio. Levesio, who was a talented portrait painter, taught Julian portrait artistry, and Julian sold his first portrait, "Portrait of Julia Maria", for almost 500 denarii in 1566, which was larger a larger sum than any Levesian portrait had managed to procure. After apprenticing with Levesio for a total of six years, and producing three portraits, Julian decided to forge out to make a name for himself.
Julian moved to Illyricus in 1569, and with the move to Illyricus a very clear change in his portrait style can be seen. In his early career, under the tutelage of Levesio, Julian's painting were very conformist for the renaissance, bright, portrait style of the time, however on his own Julian shifted to a much darker, Gothic theme. Julian's early Gothic portraits were not received well by the art community, and Julian became resented by other artists. Julian was also iced out by the high society of Illyricus, who considered Julian to be a "Novi Hominem" (New Man), which means someone who has just recently come into money. Thus, resented by both the high society and the art community of Illyricus, Julian decided to go on a trip to Dăbuza, the capital of the Kingdom of Pavulturilor in 1571.
In Dăbuza, Julian painted many of the nobility of Pavulturilor including a portrait of King Ariel Melekh V of Pavulturilor. Julian became immensely popular in Pavulturilor, and in 1572 he married Adriana Pavelekh, a Pavulturilori noble. Julian spent one more year in Dăbuza, before ultimately deciding to move back to Illyricus with his wife and his newly born daughter, Julia. In Illyricus Julian set up a school of art, which quickly became one of the most prestigious schools of art in the world. Julian spent the next 20 years producing a total of 36 portraits, and he became acclaimed by the art community for his Gothic style, which communicated the gloom of the era. In 1593, Julian moved to Trurnia, and turned his school over to his prized pupil, Lucius Appius.
While living in Trurnia, Julian became more and more reclusive, and produced fewer and fewer paintings, and by 1598, Julian had mostly faded from relevance in the world of artistry. In November of 1600, Julian found out that his wife, Adriana Pavelekh, had been having an affair with Lucius Appius, which forced Julian to divorce Adriana. Julian left the children to Adriana, and withdrew even further into seclusion, moving into a house on the River Ferunus. Two months later, on February 30, his body was discovered in the river, along with a note attesting that he had committed suicide.
Legacy
The idea of murder was floated by authorities, however no evidence was ever procured indicating a murder, and the case was ruled a suicide. Julian was often described by his contemporaries as a "Tortured Artist", and it is believed by modern historians that he suffered from depression and that he struggled with trauma from his time as a slave. Julian's impact on Illyrian, and Ecrosian art as a whole, was massive, as he personally ushered in the era of Gothic painting, paving the way for painters like Claudius Paulus and Denir Drǎča who expanded the realm of Gothic painting beyond portrait art. Julian also helped Illyricus, now Porto Enateo, become one of, if not the largest, city of art in the world. In his life, Julian produced a total of 64 works of art, all of them paintings, of which only 24 now survive, with most of them having been burned in the Capture of Illyricus in 1800 A.D. Julian was survived by his remarried former wife, his seven children, and his younger brother Gnaeus Secundus, who was also a painter.
