Portret of Simon Gregorčič

Poet Simon Gregorčič

In 1844, one of Slovenia's greatest poets, Simon Gregorčič, was born in the village of Vrsno just above Kobarid. While serving in the priesthood, he wrote many poems that were soon popularised and later became a symbol of the Slovenian struggle for national rights and culture.

The poet himself enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime, as evidenced by numerous paintings and statues with his image. The Tolmin Museum also keeps several portraits of Gregorčič.

This picture shows a portrait painted by the painter Anton Čeh (1882–1930) before the First World War. It was owned by the Skočir family from Vrsno, who moved to Štajerska in 1927 due to fascist pressure. In 2009, a descendant of the family donated the painting to the Tolmin Museum.

Today, the portrait hangs in the birth house of Simon Gregorčič in Vrsno.