Some aspects of visuality in the epic poem Osman by Ivan Gundulić

This paper focuses on the scene from the song XI from „Osman“, baroque epic poem written by Ivan Gundulić, in which characters observe tapestries depicting Battle of Chocim. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part analyzes the ways in which three observers (the narrator, Ali Pasha and Zborovski) interpret tapestries. The ways in which they do so are associated with the concept and possibility of mirroring reality. The problem is elaborated with reference to visual studies and the theory of fine arts. In the second part of the paper the focus is on mutual differences in the observing tactics. In accordance with the baroque meraviglia, the most unreliable and fragmental point of view turns out to be crucial.