The sculpture of the church of the holy virgin of the Studenica Monastery. Origin and models

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the twelfth-century sculpture of Studenica Monastery's Church of the Holy Virgin, previously thought to be influenced by Byzantine art, actually originates from Romanesque models in Italy's Emilia Romagna and Apulia regions. The study demonstrates that nearly all motifs—including the dominant 'peopled or inhabited scrolls'—stem from ancient Roman sources, challenging long-standing academic assumptions about its stylistic influences. By meticulously comparing Studenica’s decoration with Italian counterparts, researchers trace a direct lineage to Romanesque art, offering new insights into medieval European artistic exchange and the monastery's cultural significance.

Babic, V. (2019). The sculpture of the church of the holy virgin of the Studenica Monastery. Origin and models. Zograf, (43), 89–112. https://doi.org/10.2298/zog1943089b