OUR Story
the best way to preserve cultural heritage is to share it.
Founded in 2020 by Istrian Artist and Printmaker Jarilo, Tiskara Antico pays homage to the legendary Andrea Antico - the virtuoso printmaker born in Motovun in 1480.
Located atop the ancient town of Motovun, this unique open workshop offers visitors the opportunity to witness the art of printmaking firsthand, as well as the chance to create their own works of art on a replica Gutenberg press.
Whether you're an art enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking for a creative experience unlike any other, Tiskara Antico invites you to explore the fascinating world of traditional printmaking and discover your inner Renaissance man or woman in the heart of historic Istria.
about
andrea antico
Andrea Antico was born in Motovun in the late 15th century. He was an artist, composer, and printer, acclaimed during his lifetime as one of the finest woodblock printers of the age.
In 1513, Antico became the first printer of sacred music in Rome, and secured the exclusive right to print music in the Papal States. Unlike his competitors - who had used moveable type and a multiple-print technique to print music - Antico used exquisite hand-carved woodblocks, allowing him to transform pages of printed music into works of art in their own right - all without the need to send his printed books off to be hand illuminated one at a time (a problem which had previously contributed to the financial ruin of Johannes Gutenberg).
In doing so, Antico is counted amongst the earliest European pioneers of what we now call ‘graphic design’. By developing innovative techniques for printing genuinely beautiful works of art, printmakers like Antico contributed to the great opening up of artistic and literary culture that took place during the Renaissance, the legacy of which is everywhere around us in our modern world.
Tiskara Antico is a labour of love, founded in 2020 by Istrian artist and printmakerJarilo, in the belief that the best way to preserve both cultural heritage and traditional techniques is to share and build upon them.
Drawing on his life-long fascination with the explosion of creativity and new ideas unleashed by the invention of the printing press, Jarilo merges modern restoration techniques with traditional printmaking to breathe life into historical masterpieces. Meticulously reconstructing the creations of pioneering Renaissance printmakers, rejuvenating their art to inspire a new generation.
Inspired by thousands of hours of practice retracing the inked lines of his predecessors — he also crafts his own original art prints that pay homage to his Istrian roots, weaving together myths and legends from the region's rich cultural heritage. Indeed, Tiskara Antico is not just an award-winning tourist destination, it is also an open artist’s workshop, where visitors will often find Jarilo hand-carving his latest creation into wood — aided, somewhat ineffectively, by his furry four-legged apprentice (other well behaved dogs are also welcome inside the studio).
With Tiskara Antico, Jarilo hopes to honour not only the legacy of the old master’s techniques, but also the first principle of printmaking — that both art and history should be made accessible to all.