In 1990, the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments organized the exhibition A tribute to Early Croatian Heritage at which the painter, sculptor, and graphic artist Vasko Lipovac (1931 – 2006) exhibited the wooden sculpture Croatian King, later donated to the Museum by the artist, where it is kept to this day.
The sculpture was inspired by the figure of the ruler from the relief, the only one with a figural composition among the 12 marble panels that form the baptismal font in the shape of a Greek cross. The original stands in the Split Baptistery, the former temple of Diocletian’s Palace. A copy of it is exhibited in the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments. This relief from the second half of the 11th century shows a crowned Croatian ruler on the throne. It most likely originates from the altar screen of the coronation basilica of King Zvonimir (St. Peter and Moses) in Solin.
Replica of this sculpture represents the award of the MFAF expert jury.
