Newly discovered fragments of frescoes in the Church of Saint Ana above Perast, the Boka Kotorska bay

Several years ago, during the reconstruction and refurbishment of the Church of Saint Ana above Perast, the original layer of frescoes was discovered in this church, which is otherwise known for the wall paintings by Tripo Kokolja (beginning of the XVIII century). Since this church is also known as indicated in the paper, by the name of Saint Veneranda, or Saint Paraskevi, the point that was discussed first of all, was the change in the dedication of the church. On the basis of an analysis of the architecture it was argued that this was one of the oldest shrines in Perast, dating from the mid-XV century. Fragments of frescoes were then analysed, which made it possible to conclude beyond a doubt that Saint Paraskevi was painted on the triumphal arch, on the southern side, and above her, the Crucifixion. The placement of this scene in the main place in the temple resulted from the fact that the Church of Saint Ana was located at the end of the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis), in Perast. All this indicates that the educated population of Perast knew exactly how to create the sacral topography of a town. Finally, it seems that the paper proves, persuasively enough, that the wall paintings in Saint Ana are the work of Lovro Marinov Dobričević, a painter of Kotor and Dubrovnik from the middle and the latter half of the XV century.