Summary
The stone donkey on Mali most in Povlja is the work of Frane Antonijević. Installed in 2008, it commemorates an animal that played a part in island families’ daily work, transporting loads and cultivating the land.
The stone donkey on Mali most in Povlja is the work of Frane Antonijević. Installed in 2008, it commemorates an animal that played a part in island families’ daily work, transporting loads and cultivating the land.
A dedication to the community and its work
A report from June 2008 records the monument’s unveiling on the feast of St John the Baptist, the patron saint of Povlja. The local committee initiated the project, and families from Povlja and visitors helped fund it with contributions.
The occasion was the disappearance of donkeys from everyday life in the village. The sculpture is therefore more than a coastal ornament: it recalls work that shaped the relationship between people, stony paths and agricultural land.
Antonijević’s stone donkey
Artist Frane Antonijević carved the full figure of the animal from stone. A contemporary report gives its height as about 1.40 metres and its length as about 1.70 metres, excluding the pedestal.
The recognisable donkey links the monument with local stoneworking traditions and depictions of everyday life, rather than grand political or religious themes. In Povlja’s harbour it stands as a separate point among other public sculptures.
Access and visiting
The monument stands by the coast on Mali most. View it from the public passage and leave room for passersby. Climbing on or sitting on the stone figure is not an appropriate way to use the monument.
