Josip Gorup von Slavinjski – between economics, art and family

Abstract

In the article, the person of Josip Gorup von Slavinjski is illuminated who with his numerous family lived in Trieste and in Rijeka. As a throughout nationally conscious Slovene and due to many bequeaths for national needs he became honourable citizen of several Slovene towns. With his creativity, Gorup remained tightly connected with Carniola and Istria as well as with Hungarian, Croatian, Italian and Austrian banks, insurance companies and savings banks. As a great Slovene patriot, patron, exceptional benefactor, genius financier and one of the most successful Slovene economists, Slovene historians range Gorup among the wealthiest Slovenes. He was a person of highly developed aesthetic culture, admirer of art and grand supporter of artists. He left behind a considerable number of monumental historicist objects, which even nowadays serve their original purpose.