Vera Nikolić Podrinska

Who was Vera Nikolić Podrinska?

Vera Nikolić Podrinska was a Croatian painter and baroness.

She was the daughter of baron Vladimir Nikolić and baronness Elle née Scotti. Nikolić was taught painting by the Croatian painter Oton Iveković from 1900, and in Paris by Andre Lhote and Leo Junek.

In 1944 a prison camp was established at her property on Pantovčak street in Zagreb by the government of the Independent State of Croatia. At the camp were held American captured pilots. The pilots were allowed to work at Nikolić vineyard and could use her estate to play tennis and listen to music, among other activities.

After the war her property was either nationalized or bought up by the ruling Communist Party and Vila Zagorje, an estate of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz, was built. She published the travel book Od Zagreba do Bangkoka in 1957.

Nikolić travelled to the United States of America in 1966 to attend a showing of her works. She was greeted by several of the former prisoners who were held at her estate during World War II.