The Iconotheca Valvasoriana is an invaluable literary treasure, carefully guarded for centuries in the Metropolitan Library, in Zagreb, Croatia, now whispers stories on silk squares about our exceptional polyhistor J. V. Valvasor and the land of Carniola (1641–1693).

With the silk squares of the Iconotheca Valvasoriana, we want to encourage conversations about Valvasor, about his heritage, which reflects in the mosaic of our personal, social and cultural identity, our sense of ourselves and our place in the world.

I came across the Iconotheca Valvasoriana collection, its 18th volume, Plants and Animals in Carniola, by chance. I was taken by the beauty of the binding, the covers, and of course, the pages with drawings and watercolors, which are increasingly certain to be the work of J.V. Valvasor. Drawings of plants, as we still see them today on meadows and forest edges, but with an invisible connection to the time 350 years ago.

I started exploring additional information, reading articles and books about Valvasor and specifically about the Collection.

During his 14-year journey through Europe and North Africa (1659 – 1672), Janez Vajkard Valvasor was collecting books, manuscripts, graphics by respected masters of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, and other objects. He kept all of this at Bogenšperk Castle, where he also opened a graphic workshop and printing house.

He arranged the collected graphics, 7,752 sheets, by theme, technique and nationality of the authors and bound them into 18 volumes, which together form the art collection Iconotheca Valvasoriana. Unfortunately, Valvasor was later forced to sell the collection, along with the library (which numbered 2,500 books). The collection was purchased by the Zagreb Archdiocese, so it has still be kept in the Metropolitan Library in Zagreb.

In 2008, after more than 330 years, we got the collection in Slovenia: thanks to the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the 8-year work of a group of experts led by Dr. Gostiša, a hundred facsimile copies of the collection, which had previously been scientifically reviewed and translated into several languages, were printed. Most of them were donated to libraries in Slovenia (NUK, Krško, Brežice, …) and around the world, and as state gifts to presidents of countries.

An exceptional cultural and historical monument of European importance, highly appreciated and known among our professional public, among connoisseurs, if we conclude from conversations with individuals living here of various ages, but not among the general public. Just as it seems to be less widely known, Valvasor, in addition to publishing the Slava duchy of Carniola, was also a great innovator, a technical genius, the initiator of a scientific, evidence-based and observation-based approach to explaining phenomena, the first to explain the functioning of the intermittent lake and the special techniques of casting statues and was therefore accepted into the Royal Society of London, at the same time as Newton, Hanley and other geniuses of the time. And last but not least, in addition to leaving us rich descriptions of life and nature at that time, unique even on a European scale, he was also a storyteller who wrote tales from folk tales, anecdotes and personal experiences that inspired later generations of writers.

All of the above, as well as the values ​​he stood for and lived himself, his curiosity, his thirst for new knowledge, his perseverance, his dedication, his courage, which are so relevant today and important in the future, have aroused the desire to contribute to spreading awareness of the rich cultural heritage that he handed down to us and at the same time built.

Let the gentle touch of silk and the beauty of a timeless pattern bring stories to life and invite new discoveries.

Kindly invited to the presentation and events we organize for small groups at Galleria at Cigaletova 5, Ljubljana, upon appointment.

Lidija Drobež