Ivan Standl’s dynamic work rhythm, which included numerous field and studio photographs and participation at international exhibitions, was interrupted by the Great Zagreb Earthquake on 9 November, 1880. His studio in Mesnička 9 was heavily damaged when the firewall of the neighbouring house at Mesnička 7 collapsed, destroying almost all the glass panes in the studio’s skylights, along with decorative furniture, backdrops, and other items. The Standl family asked Bishop Strossmayer for aid in restoration so that the studio could resume operations as soon as possible. During the studio’s restoration, Standl meticulously documented the aftermath of the earthquake and damage to buildings.
Due to his damaged equipment and supplies, unlike other Zagreb photographers, Ivan Standl did not begin his fieldwork documenting the consequences of the earthquake until 16 November. He photographed the damage at 20 locations, most of which were in the Zagreb’s surroundings of the time. Among his legacy, there are many photographs of sacral buildings, such as details of damaged tombs at Zagreb Cathedral, St. Catherine’s Church, and the Synagogue, along with photographs of churches and chapels outside Zagreb, including the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Remete, Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Stenjevec and Chapel of St. Anthony in Gornji Stenjevec, partially demolished Stations of the Cross and the entry portal of the Church of St. Francis Xavier at Ksaver, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and rectory in Granešina, Chapel of St. Vitus in Kašina and Church of Holy Three Kings on Kraljev Vrh. He also photographed church buildings that had no liturgical function: manor at Kaptol, building of the canon guardian of the Cathedral in Kustošija and a manor house of the Merciful Brothers in Stenjevac.
Among the photographs of civil buildings in Zagreb, notable examples include demolished two-storey house in Marovska ulica, Mikšić Castle in Sveta Helena, the former Erdödy Castle in Kerestinec, and St. Nicholas house – manor near Zelina.
In the category of public buildings Standl photographed damage to Teacher Education Preparatory School, Popov toranj, ruined wing of the Imperial and Royal Main Military Headquarters and the interior of the Royal Noble Convict.
For the first time, Standl photographed the interiors of the following buildings: St. Catherine’s Church, Royal Noble Convict, Zagreb Cathedral, Zagreb Synagogue, Church of the Holy Three Kings on Kraljev Vrh, and three churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the settlements of Granešina, Remete, and Stenjevec.
Standl’s photographs of the aftermath of the earthquake have been of interest for over 140 years. They were used both domestically and internationally for scientific purposes of the time, as well as in literary and journalistic publications.
Today, the photos that document buildings that no longer exist (such as the wing of the former Jesuit monastery on the today’s Gradec plateau next to Klovićevi dvori, Zagreb Synagogue, chapel of St. Anthony) or have undergone significant changes (Kerestinec Castle, which is missing two southern cylindrical towers and second floor of the northern and western wing and the castle of St. Helen, where at the place of original building new one was built, a single-storey building) are particularly interesting.
As a reward for sending the photographs of the earthquake, the Emperor Franz Joseph I awarded Ivan Standl the Golden Medal for Science and Art (Litteris et Artibus).
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Here you can view rare glass plate collodion negatives and albumen prints from the Museum’s collection.
(D. S.)
