Simon Ogrin was Slovenian painter born on 6. October 1851 in Stara Vrhnika, he died on 3. May 1930 in Vrhnika. He was born as a first child in family of eight to tailer Luka Ogrin and Marija Skubelj. As a child, he began to help with farm work at an early age, as a result he was poorly educated, but already at early age he was excited about statues in churches, with a desire to produce them himself. At the age of sixteen he started to learn in Ljubljana at fine artist Avguštin Götzl, where he also lived. Between years 1867 and 1870 he visited Sunday and craft school.
At Janez Wolf he started to learn in year 1872, where he stayed until year 1875. Afterward he goes to Venice to Academy of fine arts, where he already the first year received praise, next year he got a prestige reward for best composition with painting Murder of duke Galeaza Maria Sforza, the painting is today located in National museum in Ljubljana. He refused, despite financial problems, cash reward, but kept his diploma. He goes to Wiena academy in year 1878, where he meets Franciscan Aleksander Roblek. Two years later he leaves the academy and in year 1879 he returns to his birth place, where he was creating for local patron Fran Kotnik. Soon after he leaves for Italy, where he was discovering the art achievements in Venice, Bologna, Firence and Rome.
In year 1880 he returns home, but soon he accepts order for a paiting of parish of St. Stefan in Vipava, where he also moves. In year 1884 he returns to Vrhnika, where he settles down and on 9. September 1884 marries Elizabeta Tomšič, they had 7 children. In time of his living in Vrhnika he accepted several orders of church paintings.
Simon Ogrin belongs to nasar movement, his beginning goes to year 1876, at that time he helped the painter Janez Wolf at painting the parish church of St. Stefan in Vipava. In time of his studies he painted for Stritar bell (si. Stritarjev zvon). His first independent order was to paint Capuchin church in Vipavski križ in year 1882. His most successful painting is located in Mary’s chapel in Škofja loka, where he worked between years 1887 and 1888. He was making notes of his work between years 1885 and 1930, which are still today preserved. From year 1885 and to his dath, he created: 30 presbyteries, 12 paintings for church walls, 18 cross paths, 15 graves of the God, 16 banners and 16 village chapels.
His paintings can be found all around Slovenia, as well as in Croatia and Dalmatia. He liked to stage the scenes of the Holy Trinity (si. Sveta Trojica) and scenes with Mary. His figures, which are systematically arranged, remind on Wolf’s style, but his figures are smaller, more drawing and two-dimensional, but as a whole in contrast with Wolf, non-monumentally.
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