Born in
Skradin, young Juraj probably received his first painting lessons while still in Dalmatia, from
Dujam Vušković when that artist was in
Šibenik (1448–52) working on a
polyptych for the cathedral commissioned by the nobleman Juraj Radoslavčić. He moved to Italy in 1456, and signed a contract to assist
Francesco Squarcione in his
Padua studio. After a few years he left Squarcione's workshop, without repaying his debt to the teacher and taking several of his drawings with him. By 1462 he was back in Dalmatia, working in
Zadar, then from 1463 he was in Šibenik teaching art, with working visits to
Venice and Padua. In 1463 he married Jelena, the daughter of the sculptor and architect
Juraj Dalmatinac. It is said that his paintings influenced his father-in-law’s sculpture. Squarcione was unsuccessful in his attempts to have the money and items returned to him, so in 1467 he brought a lawsuit, nominating
Juraj Dalmatinac to represent him. However, by 1474, Squarcione had died, and his son was told that the money and drawings had been given to Marinko Vušković, who had subsequently died having been captured by the Ottomans. There is very little information concerned with his paintings in Dalmatia. Although contracted to produce works for
Šibenik Cathedral, one of the polyptychs mentioned was actually completed by Nicola Braccio from Pisa. On the other hand, there are a great many documents in which he is mentioned with respect to buying land, trading in wine and oil, renting property, selling cheese, wool, wax and gold wire, as well as borrowing money. He died in Šibenik on 6 December 1504 and is buried in Šibenik Cathedral. Shortly afterwards his wife Jelena died in January 1505. He was survived by two illegitimate children: a son Luka and a daughter Stana. ==Works==