Svetislav Ivanovitch

Svetislav Ivanovitch (Jovanović) was an active fencer for many years in the Paris fencing scene, mainly competing in épée tournaments, including in the individual (amateurs) event at the 1900 Paris Olympics. He was born in Serbia, one of eight children of Stevan and Ernestine (née Deot) Jovanović; his father was a photographer and his older brother Pavle “Paja” (1859–1957) was a notable realist painter. Svetislav Ivanovitch was also a well-known painter and resided in Paris where he briefly lived with and received artistic training under his brother, who also went by the name Paul Ivanovitch. He also served as president of the Colonie Yougoslave de France, as a member of the Committee of the Société d’Escrime à l’Épée de Paris, and was honourary president of Salle Baudat for several years. In 1929, he was awarded the Legion of Honour by decree of the French government.