Jaksic Stonemasonry
Workshop and Gallery

Bust of Jean-Michel Nicolier / by academic sculptor Lovre Jakšić

- the bust of Jean-Michel Nicolier, installed in Vukovar, is one of many public sculptures created by our academic sculptor Lovre Jakšić, but at the same time one of the most significant due to the importance of the person it honours. Jean-Michel Nicolier was a French volunteer who came to defend the city of Vukovar in 1991. His sacrifice and dedication left an indelible mark on Croatian history. The stone bust was created as a portrait sculpture in white Brač stone and stands on a simple yet powerful stone pedestal, also made in our stonemasonry workshop. The entire monument is the result of precise and expert craftsmanship and portrays Nicolier’s likeness with warmth and reverence. The process of creating such a portrait sculpture is very complex. The first step is modelling a life-size clay portrait, followed by the creation of a plaster mould, then a plaster model. That model serves as the reference for the stone version. Using the pointing technique, every facial detail is transferred from plaster to stone, ensuring faithful representation and expressiveness of form. What makes this bust unique is the depiction of Jean-Michel Nicolier’s characteristic smile – a warm, human expression that graced his face even in the most difficult moments. That smile, now permanently carved in stone, evokes the spirit and humanity this young man carried within him. The monument to Jean-Michel Nicolier is not merely a work of sculpture – it is a lasting tribute to one of the most noble foreign fighters of the Croatian War of Independence, a man who chose freedom and solidarity over personal safety.