Zois Mansion in Ljubljana. A fresh look at the portals on the main façade

Abstract

The article discusses the portals on the main façade of Zois Mansion on Breg 22 in Ljubljana. The building, characterized by an extensive architectural history and now combining six houses, was given its current appearance around 1805. The main portal, originating from the first Zois corner house, was transferred to the current location about 1765, when the house was merged with the next-door Erberg Mansion. Probably built in the workshop of the master stone carver Luka Mislej between 1710 and 1727, the portal represents a high-quality and original work that stands out from the rest of Ljubljana’s contemporary production. Other portals use the same form. The first, the fourth, and the sixth from the left were built about 1805, during the last expansion of the mansion, probably forming part of the opus of the architect Ignac Prager. The second, the third, and the seventh portals date to 1832, formally imitating the former three.