PORTRAITS OF UROŠ II MILUTIN AS А KING AND FOUNDER IN SERBIAN MONUMENTAL PAINTING OF 14TH CENTURY

The present paper seeks to investigate the historical portraits of Milutin on mural paintings in Serbia, highlighting the changes of the ico- nography of royal portrait during the 13th century and the first decades of the 14th century. Due to his favorable political position, the ruler expanded his activity, both in political and artistical areas. It is useful then to touch upon some historical events and political relationship in the period under consideration. Without losing sight on different aspects, I have chosen to focus on the image of Serbian ruler from his childhood, represented on Sopoćani´s frescoes in the sixties of the 13th century, to the last portrait in Gračanica, finished a few days before his death in 1321. I will describe the portraits of Milutin, focusing my attention on expression of Milutin´s prop- aganda in monumental art, thus the representation of royal costumes, royal insignia and the figures surrounding him. Therefore, I will examine the por- traits of Milutin in the most representative churches like Sopoćani, Arilje, Prizren, Studenica, Gračanica, Staro Nagoričino and Chilandar Monastery. The topic offers by way of comparison some general observations on the image of Milutin as ruler. It also deals with the representation of the holi- ness of rulers in visual sources. I shall examine the luxury court attire of the ruler and of his spouse Simonis and describe the visual expressions used to represent the sovereignty of Milutin.